The Arctic is losing its permafrost, and with it the stability of buildings, pipelines and the lives of thousands of people. In May 2020, the largest diesel fuel spill disaster in the polar Arctic occurred in Norilsk. An investigation by experts showed that the cause was not only human error, but also the lack of up-to-date information from the Norilsk Nickel company about the real scale of permafrost thawing.

The Arctic is losing its permafrost—and with it, the stability of buildings, pipelines, and the lives of thousands. I n May 2020, the city of Norilsk was the site of the largest diesel spill disaster in the polar Arctic. An expert investigation revealed that human error was not solely to blame, but also the company Nornickel’s lack of up-to-date information on the actual scale of permafrost thawing.