The article discusses the impact of climate change on environment and the development of the Russian Arctic, with regard to modern definitions of the concept of “climate change”. The socio-economic development of the Arctic suggests an increase in the anthropogenic impact on the natural environment of the region, and will cause an increase in environmental danger for extremely vulnerable and unstable Arctic ecosystems. Therefore, the article describes the necessity of increasing the level of environmental safety, aimed at reducing the impact of inevitable challenges and threats, as one of its most important components.