Dear Eartha, how does climate change impact Santa’s holiday operations?

If you haven’t heard, things aren’t looking so cool in Santa’s part of the world. In fact, the North Pole and the whole Arctic region is heating up — fast. For decades, scientists have understood that climate change is warming Earth’s icy north faster than the rest of the planet. This phenomenon is called “Arctic amplification,” and recent research shows just how quickly polar conditions are, well, amplifying. Data from the past 40 years show that Arctic temperatures are increasing four times the rate of the rest of the world. Whereas average global temperatures have increased about 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit since the 1980s, temperatures above the Arctic circle have increased more than 5 degrees.

Arctic on thin ice

Why is the Arctic heating up faster than everywhere else? There are a number of factors, the most important of which is melting sea ice. As anyone who’s gotten a winter sunburn can attest, snow and ice reflect sunlight. This is called the albedo effect. But as ocean and air temperatures warm, the sea ice melts, exposing blue ocean waters. The darker ocean surface absorbs more heat from the sun, further increasing temperatures, and accelerating climate warming as a result.

There is a long list of detrimental societal and ecosystem impacts caused by a changing arctic climate and these impacts extend well beyond the limits of the Arctic Circle. But what about Santa? Is the Arctic’s jolliest denizen immune to the dangers of a changing climate? 

Santa is a climate refugee 

Unfortunately, the North Pole is not located on land. Instead, it’s perched on sea ice. Rising temperatures mean that Arctic summers could be entirely ice free by the 2030s — Santa will have to relocate his workshop. He and his crew of elves won’t be alone; by 2050, as many as 1.2 billion people will be forced to leave their traditional homelands because of climate change.

Adding to Santa’s woes, he’s going to have trouble finding reindeer to steer his sleigh. This year’s Arctic Report Card published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration showed that tundra caribou populations have declined 65% over the past few decades. Needless to say, climate change is going to wreak havoc on Santa’s worldwide gift-giving mission. 

No coal for you

Santa’s origin story dates back over 1,500 years to Saint Nicholas, a monk living in modern-day Turkey. St. Nick’s fabled generosity inspired the tradition of Christmastime gift giving. So, it stands to reason that Santa’s compassion for children all over the world would lead him to ensure that – whether nestled in stockings or placed under trees – the presents he delivers don’t cause harm to people and planet.

How might Santa adapt his gifting strategy in the face of a changing climate? While I’m not an official North Pole elf, here are a few thoughts:

• Santa knows that fossil fuel use is causing the temperature change in his Arctic abode. That’s why he’s no longer giving out coal to the folks on the naughty list. Instead, he might consider giving out reindeer droppings. After all, animal manure can be used to generate renewable electricity.
• It’s no secret that Santa loves cookies. And he’ll love them even more when baking them doesn’t require burning natural gas. From now on, Santa’s only giving induction ranges. Powered by electricity, induction ranges are better for indoor air quality and the environment. Other appliances on your wish list? From heat pumps to snow blowers, Santa’s certainly a supporter of electrification. 
• Santa sees everything, including all the excess waste generated during the holiday season. In the United States, household trash increases about 25 percent between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Ever the practical gift giver, Santa’s got food scrap compost buckets on his list for all Summit County residents – that way holiday leftovers don’t end up producing nasty methane in our landfill. 

Whether naughty or nice, Santa surely believes we all deserve to live on a healthy planet. So, no matter how you celebrate, let us enter 2025 with this spirit in our hearts — empowered to create a better future for all of Earth’s creatures, both those at home and in the North Pole.