Scientists predict that the arctic sea lanes will be free from ice in summer within 20 years. This is good news for the world economy.
According to Fox News, "The data supports the new consensus view — based on seasonal variation of ice extent and thickness, changes in temperatures, winds and especially ice composition — that the Arctic will be ice-free in summer within about 20 years," said Peter Wadhams, professor of ocean physics at the University of Cambridge, U.K.
If the arctic ice does indeed melt it will result in many positive benefits to the world economy and indirectly to individual consumers. It's not that big a deal.
If there is no arctic ice the Northwest Passage opens up for shipping, at least it will be open in the summer if professor Wadhams is to be believed. This will cut from one to two weeks off the travel time for shipments of material goods traveling between Europe and Asia. Rather than having to round the Cape of Good Hope or weather the Magellan Straits, vessels can sail a more direct and shorter route across the north pole.
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