Climate change in the Arctic is of greater severity than the rest of the earth. Arctic global surface air temperatures have increased by 1.8˚C over the last 100 years, which is double that of the rest of the globe. 323 Due to this, the National Snow and Ice Data Centre has warned that if current trends continue, the Arctic could become ice free by 2060. 324 325 However, the Arctic is still a harsh environment and it is important to note that although the conditions in the Arctic are becoming less harsh due to climate change, it does not mean that the Arctic is readily accessible currently. No evidence suggests that the Arctic will be ice free in the winter months. 326 Therefore although the Arctic is becoming 323 William L. Chapman, ‘Arctic Climate Change: Recent and Projected’, Swords and Ploughshares edition ‘Global Security, Climate Change, and the Arctic’, Bulletin of the Program in Arms Control, Disarmament, and International Security, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 17.3 (2009), 5-10 (pp.6-7). 324 National Snow and Ice Data Centre, Arctic Sea Ice News Fall 2007 (2007), <http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2007/10/589/> [accessed 13 November 2016]. 325 Steven L. Lamy, ‘The U.S Arctic Policy Agenda: The State Trumps Other Interests’, in Future Security of the Global Arctic: State Policy, Economic Security and Climate , ed.by Lassi Heininen (Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2016), pp.77-98 (p.80). 326 David W. Titley and Courtney C. St.John, ‘Arctic Security Considerations and the U.S. Navy’s “Arctic Roadmap”’, in Arctic Security In An Age Of Climate Change , 2nd edn, ed. by James Kraska (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013), pp.267-280 (pp.268-269).
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