If Santa lives on the North Pole, he might lose his home because the Arctic icecap is melting.

Due for publication on November 8, an eight-nation report compiled by 250 scientists says the Arctic is warming almost twice as fast as the rest of the planet due to a buildup of heat-trapping gases and the trend is set to continue.

“We are taking a risk with the global climate,” said Paal Prestrud, vice-chair of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) report, which says emissions of gases from cars, factories and power plants are mostly to blame.

The Arctic icecap has shrunk by 15-20 percent in the past 30 years and the contraction is likely to accelerate, Prestrud said. The Arctic Ocean could be almost ice-free in summer by the end of the century. [Free Internet Press]

This might also pose a problem for low-lying islands and shores, especially in the Philippines. When the polar ice caps melt, the sea level will rise. The Philippines’ 7,107 (or 7,108, depending on high tide or low tide) might be reduced to 100 or lower.

All must act now.

Original address: http://www.frederickcalica.com/thoughtpatterns/2004/11/03/14/