Canada's Polar Bear--Falling Through the Cracks?

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More than half the world’s polar bears live in Canada.

That’s something to be proud of, but it’s also a major responsibility.

Polar bears are internationally recognized as a threatened species--their future is uncertain in the face the rapid changes to their arctic habitat from global warming.

Shockingly, Canadian governments do not have a plan to protect polar bears, despite clear warnings from scientists that the future of this iconic animal is in jeopardy. 

The David Suzuki Foundation conducted a comprehensive study of provincial and federal protections for the bear, and released their analysis in the report, Canada’s Polar Bear: Falling Through the Cracks?  Click here to download

The findings were troubling: despite increasing threats to their survival - including melting sea ice, pollutants, increased shipping traffic and oil/gas exploration – polar bears are not listed federally as a species at risk, and have little to no protection through the provinces and territories.

Recommendations

The report offers clear recommendations for the federal, territorial and provincial governments to take action:
 
•    follow the scientific recommendations that the polar bear be listed as a species of special concern;
•    improve provincial and territorial species at risk legislation;
•    create marine and terrestrial protected areas in polar bear habitat;
•    develop policies to decrease the amount of toxics released into the atmosphere;
•    develop policies to deeply cut our country’s greenhouse gas emissions.


Learn more about polar bears.