Arctic Emissions Exceed Carbon Storage: Climate Change Impacts Worsen

The Arctic tundra has taken a drastic turn, emitting more carbon than it stores, exacerbating the effects of climate change. This alarming trend has been observed in the Circumpolar region, where wildfires have become increasingly frequent and intense. According to recent data, the average annual carbon emissions from these fires have surpassed 207 million tons since 2003. Furthermore, Arctic terrestrial ecosystems have consistently remained a source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The year 2023 witnessed the largest fire year on record, with Canadian wildfires burning more than twice the area of any previous year. The devastating fires emitted nearly 400 million tons of carbon, a staggering amount that surpasses the emissions from all other sectors in Canada combined. In 2024, Alaska recorded its second-warmest permafrost temperatures on record, a clear indication of the intensifying effects of human-caused climate change on high-latitude wildfires. As a result, the burned area, intensity, and associated carbon emissions from these wildfires have significantly increased, posing a significant threat to the environment and global climate stability.

Fact Comparison

Fact	Tribune	Dawn
carbon_emissions	The Arctic tundra is emitting more carbon than it stores, which will worsen climate change impacts.	The Arctic tundra is now emitting more carbon than it stores, which will worsen climate change impacts.
wildfire_emissions	Circumpolar wildfire emissions have averaged 207 million tons of carbon annually since 2003.	Since 2003, circumpolar wildfire emissions have averaged 207 million tons of carbon annually.
wildfires	Human-caused climate change is intensifying high-latitude wildfires, which have increased in burned area, intensity, and associated carbon emissions.	Human-caused climate change is intensifying high-latitude wildfires, which have increased in burned area, intensity, and associated carbon emissions.
record_fire_year	2023 was the largest fire year on record due to Canadian wildfires, which burned more than twice any other year on record in Canada.	2023 was the largest fire year on record due to Canadian wildfires, which burned more than twice any other year on record in Canada.
wildfire_emissions	The fires emitted nearly 400 million tons of carbon -- more than two-and-a-half times the emissions from all other sectors in Canada combined.	The fires emitted nearly 400 million tons of carbon — more than two-and-a-half times the emissions from all other sectors in Canada combined.
permafrost_thaw	In 2024, Alaska recorded its second-warmest permafrost temperatures on record.	In 2024, Alaska recorded its second-warmest permafrost temperatures on record.
climate_change_impact	Human-caused climate change is intensifying high-latitude wildfires, which have increased in burned area, intensity, and associated carbon emissions.	The climate catastrophe we’re seeing in the Arctic is already bringing consequences for communities around the world.
tundra_caribou_numbers		Tundra caribou numbers have decreased by 65 per cent over the past two to three decades.
ice_seal_populations		Alaska’s ice seal populations remain healthy, with no long-term negative impacts on body condition, age of maturity, pregnancy rates, or pup survival.
The Arctic tundra is emitting more carbon than it stores, which will worsen climate change impacts.	✔	✔
Circumpolar wildfire emissions have averaged 207 million tons of carbon annually since 2003.	✔	✔
Arctic terrestrial ecosystems have remained a consistent source of methane.	✔	✔
2023 was the largest fire year on record due to Canadian wildfires, which burned more than twice any other year on record in Canada.	✔	✔
The fires emitted nearly 400 million tons of carbon — more than two-and-a-half times the emissions from all other sectors in Canada combined.	✔	✔
In 2024, Alaska recorded its second-warmest permafrost temperatures on record.	✔	✔
Human-caused climate change is intensifying high-latitude wildfires, which have increased in burned area, intensity, and associated carbon emissions.	✔	✔

Fact

Tribune

Dawn

carbon_emissions

The Arctic tundra is emitting more carbon than it stores, which will worsen climate change impacts.

The Arctic tundra is now emitting more carbon than it stores, which will worsen climate change impacts.

wildfire_emissions

Circumpolar wildfire emissions have averaged 207 million tons of carbon annually since 2003.

Since 2003, circumpolar wildfire emissions have averaged 207 million tons of carbon annually.

wildfires

Human-caused climate change is intensifying high-latitude wildfires, which have increased in burned area, intensity, and associated carbon emissions.

record_fire_year

2023 was the largest fire year on record due to Canadian wildfires, which burned more than twice any other year on record in Canada.

wildfire_emissions

The fires emitted nearly 400 million tons of carbon -- more than two-and-a-half times the emissions from all other sectors in Canada combined.

The fires emitted nearly 400 million tons of carbon — more than two-and-a-half times the emissions from all other sectors in Canada combined.

permafrost_thaw

In 2024, Alaska recorded its second-warmest permafrost temperatures on record.

climate_change_impact

Human-caused climate change is intensifying high-latitude wildfires, which have increased in burned area, intensity, and associated carbon emissions.

The climate catastrophe we’re seeing in the Arctic is already bringing consequences for communities around the world.

tundra_caribou_numbers

Tundra caribou numbers have decreased by 65 per cent over the past two to three decades.

ice_seal_populations

Alaska’s ice seal populations remain healthy, with no long-term negative impacts on body condition, age of maturity, pregnancy rates, or pup survival.

The Arctic tundra is emitting more carbon than it stores, which will worsen climate change impacts.

✔

Circumpolar wildfire emissions have averaged 207 million tons of carbon annually since 2003.

✔

Arctic terrestrial ecosystems have remained a consistent source of methane.

✔

2023 was the largest fire year on record due to Canadian wildfires, which burned more than twice any other year on record in Canada.

✔

The fires emitted nearly 400 million tons of carbon — more than two-and-a-half times the emissions from all other sectors in Canada combined.

✔

In 2024, Alaska recorded its second-warmest permafrost temperatures on record.

✔