"Climate change and its impacts are accelerating at unexpected rates with global consequences," conference officials said Thursday. "Scientific information presented has raised to new levels our concern regarding the changes that are taking place in the Arctic. The social and economic challenges in the Arctic are only going to increase exponentially."

Among other things, conference participants are urging the Canadian government to undertake "immediate measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change."

The conference this week is focusing on what countries can do to address the "challenges and opportunities" associated with climate change.

Officials said Arctic Change 2008 is the largest international Arctic science meeting ever held in Canada.