The Arctic Ocean is undergoing rapid change: sea ice is being lost, waters are warming, coastlines are eroding, species are moving into new areas, and more. This paper explores the many ways that a changing Arctic Ocean affects societies in the Arctic and around the world. In the Arctic, Indigenous Peoples are again seeing their food security threatened and cultural continuity in danger of disruption. Resource development is increasing as is interest in tourism and possibilities for trans-Arctic maritime trade, creating new opportunities and also new stresses. Beyond the Arctic, changes in sea ice affect mid-latitude weather, and Arctic economic opportunities may re-shape commodities and transportation markets. Rising interest in the Arctic is also raising geopolitical tensions about the region. What happens next depends in large part on the choices made within and beyond the Arctic concerning global climate change and industrial policies and Arctic ecosystems and cultures.

北冰洋正在经历迅速的变化：海冰正在消失，海水变暖，海岸线正在侵蚀，物种正在迁移到新的区域等等。本文探讨了北冰洋变化对北极和世界各地社会的影响的多种方式。在北极，土著人民再次看到他们的粮食安全受到威胁，文化连续性面临被破坏的危险。资源开发不断增加，人们对旅游业的兴趣和跨北极海上贸易的可能性也在增加，创造了新的机遇，也带来了新的压力。在北极以外，海冰的变化影响中纬度天气，北极的经济机会可能会重塑商品和运输市场。对北极的兴趣日益浓厚也加剧了该地区的地缘政治紧张局势。接下来发生的事情在很大程度上取决于北极内外就全球气候变化、产业政策以及北极生态系统和文化做出的选择。