Thawing permafrost and the carbon time bomb
Arctic and boreal permafrost holds roughly twice as much carbon as the atmosphere. As it thaws, it releases greenhouse gases and destabilises the ground beneath towns and pipelines.
How this affects people
Permafrost is ground that has stayed frozen for at least two years — in much of the Arctic, for thousands. It locks away vast amounts of ancient organic carbon.
Thaw releases carbon dioxide and methane, damages buildings, roads and pipelines, and changes Arctic landscapes and ecosystems.
Look at what keeps the problem going
- 01Arctic warming several times faster than the global average
- 02Wildfires removing insulating soil layers
- 03Warmer, wetter winters
What could happen next
The future leaves room for choices. Compare the outlooks, check what supports them and notice where the evidence becomes less certain
Infrastructure damage continues
Subsiding ground keeps cracking roads, buildings and pipelines in Arctic towns.
The future is not a timetable. These summaries reflect published scenarios and trends, with deeper uncertainty at longer horizons. Choices made now matter.
Where could a useful response begin?
Begin with a question you can investigate. Compare the sources and follow related briefings to see how the problem connects to other lives and places. This prototype does not accept proposals yet.
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