A WWF study, ‘Arctic Climate Change with a 2 degree C Global Warming’ by Dr Mark New of Oxford University, suggests that the earth may have warmed by 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels as early as the year 2026. The study used simulations of global climate change to predict that the Arctic will warm by up to three times this amount which could result in Santa’s home changing forever.

WWF is concerned that Santa is not the only resident who will be affected by the devastating impacts of dangerous levels of climate change.

Summer sea ice in the Arctic is already melting at a rate of nearly 10 per cent a decade. If this trend continues the Arctic Ocean will be entirely ice-free in summer well before the end of the century. In the Arctic this could lead to a loss of polar bears, some ice dwelling seals and some types of tundra vegetation as well as leading to fundamental changes in the ways of life of indigenous communities and other Arctic residents, including Santa.

The report points out that on-land warming over Greenland could lead to substantial melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet, contributing to an increase in sea levels around the world. The tens of millions of people living in low lying cities like Dhaka, Bangkok, Calcutta, Manila and the US states of Florida and Louisiana are particularly susceptible to rising sea levels. Greenland contains enough potential meltwater to raise global sea level by about seven metres over a time-scale of centuries.

“We are already seeing signs of significant change in the Arctic with the mountain glaciers retreating, snow cover disappearing, the Greenland ice sheet thinning and Arctic sea ice cover declining. All of these changes tell us there is no time to lose, we need to take drastic action now to combat climate change,” said Imogen Zethoven, PowerSwitch! campaign leader.

According to WWF, global emissions of CO2, the main greenhouse gas, needs to be reduced by 60 per cent by 2050. Renewable energy technologies are available now and in many cases would save consumers money as well as helping the planet.

Although the power sector is the biggest single polluter of CO2, we can all take simple steps this Christmas to reduce the impact our lives have on our climate and help prevent Santa’s home from melting – making sure he and other Arctic residents can stay in their winter wonderland.

Top five tips to help combat climate change this Christmas:

1. Buy a living Christmas tree from a sustainable source. Look after it and you should have it for next year, too.
2. Turn down the heating thermostat by 1°C. If you’re cold put on that Christmas sweater your aunty bought you!
3. Switch off Christmas tree lights and decorations when you are out or overnight and when the family pop round over the festive period don’t leave the TV, computer or stereo on standby - switch them off.
4. Treat your home and the planet to a Christmas present this year and switch your electricity to a credible green energy supplier.
5. If you are thinking about buying a new washing machine, refrigerator or dishwasher, please buy the most energy-efficient model. They will pay for themselves through lower energy bills.