However, certain human activities - such as clearing forests or burning fossil fuels - may add to the greenhouse effect, causing an excessive buildup of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The result of this is greenhouse effect, which allows solar energy to enter the atmosphere but prevents a lot of the infrared radiation from returning to space. This phenomenon may lead to global warming, an increase in the earth's temperature, which may, in turn, end up in a partial melting of polar ice caps.

The Arctic regions are very sensitive to climate change. Even small changes in the global environment may result in large changes in the Arctic environment: in weather patterns, precipitation, river flow, permafrost and sea ice, among other things. These would consequently affect indigenous life styles probably making Lapland a place where it would be easier to live but harder to make a living.