Impact of climate change on the Arctic 'scary', says Obama's envoy

'I think we should all be concerned' says special representative for the region Robert Papp amid fears that warming effects will lead to scramble for resources

Climate change is exerting "really scary" impacts on the Arctic with far-reaching consequences for the rest of the world, Barack Obama's envoy for the region said on Friday.

Those changes, from melting sea ice to thawing permafrost and more frequent and severe storms, were leading the US and other countries to step up their presence in the remote and mineral-rich region, said Admiral Robert Papp, the State Department special representative for the Arctic.