“A sailing race across the icebound Northwest Passage is being planned for 2017,” reports Quartz , “through a route the organizers say has been made possible by climate change.”  

“The route used to be unnavigable because of pack ice, which may well still be problematic for the race participants. But in the years since 1998 there has been less ice, with more below-average than above-average years, and more open water.”  

“Sailing ships through previously ice-packed waters also offers the possibility of new trade routes to China—likely again for oil. Interest has quieted since falling oil prices made expensive shipments through tretcherous routes less profitable, but it’s likely to resurface when oil prices rise again.”