22 Polar Ice Cap Shrinks Further and Thins With the warming of the planet, the polar ice cap is shrinking and the Arctic Sea is expanding. As the ice cap shrinks further, more and more underwater mineral resources will become accessible. Many countries are staking out territorial claims to parts of the polar region.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, 7 April 2009 Explain how ownership of these mineral resources will influence the amount of damage done to the Arctic Sea and its wildlife.