What an effort to save Arctic sea ice means to the people who depend on it
03 July 2025, Chloe Williams, thenarwhal.ca
Ice thickening is an example of a category of highly controversial interventions aimed at modifying the climate to combat warming. The Real Ice project in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, has drawn sharp criticism from scientists, who question the environmental impacts of the company’s experimental efforts and the feasibility of scaling up. But unlike many geoengineering projects, Real Ice’s experiments have garnered local support so far. For some residents, the goal of saving sea ice resonates because it supports the continuation of cultural and traditional practices. Others see applications for sea ice thickening besides fighting climate change. At a smaller scale, it could be useful for building roads, reinforcing snowmobile routes or supporting fish and wildlife populations. Five Cambridge Bay residents discuss what sea ice means to them, as well as how they see their home changing and, if they have heard about Real Ice, what they think about the effort.