The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released its annual Arctic Report Card for December 2024, revealing alarming changes in the Arctic tundra.

The report highlights that the Arctic is warming at a rate two to four times faster than the global average, leading to significant thawing of permafrost.

This thawing has resulted in the Arctic tundra shifting from a carbon sink, which previously absorbed carbon dioxide, to a net carbon emitter due to climatic changes and increased wildfires.

The report notes that Arctic sea ice extent reached its sixth lowest level in 45 years of satellite records as of September 2024, indicating ongoing environmental changes.

Recent years have been exceptionally warm, with 2023 and 2024 recorded as the hottest on record, influenced in part by El Niño conditions.

Wildfires, which were historically infrequent in the Arctic, have become more common, further releasing carbon that vegetation previously stored.

In 2024, the Arctic recorded its second warmest annual surface air temperature since 1900, with record-breaking temperatures noted during an August heatwave.

Twila Moon, the report's lead editor, emphasizes the urgent need for adaptation strategies and community-led research to effectively address these rapid changes in the Arctic.

Approximately 4 million people live north of the Arctic Circle, where Indigenous communities and mining activities coexist, complicating resource extraction in the region.

NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad warns that this transition will exacerbate climate change consequences unless fossil fuel pollution is significantly reduced.

As permafrost thaws, it releases trapped carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, worsening global climate change impacts.

The past nine years have been the warmest on record in the Arctic, underscoring the need for immediate action to mitigate further environmental damage.