North or South

The book emphasizes how climate change and resource exploitation destabilize these regions in distinct ways. Arctic sea ice, crucial for wildlife and Indigenous livelihoods, melts faster due to atmospheric warming, while Antarctic ice loss hinges more on shifting ocean currents. Unlike the industrialized Arctic, Antarctica faces threats from krill overfishing and tourism. North or South stands out by weaving climate science with Indigenous knowledge—such as Inuit observations of thinning ice—to argue for tailored conservation policies.

Structured in three sections, it progresses from ecological basics to human-driven threats, finally proposing solutions like marine protected areas and Indigenous-led stewardship. By comparing poles side-by-side, the book uncovers paradoxes: some Arctic species adapt by expanding ranges, while Antarctic endemics face extinction. Its interdisciplinary approach, blending geopolitics, biology, and fieldwork, offers a nuanced lens on protecting these critical, fragile ecosystems.