People and Planet: A remarkable shipping shortcut is opening up between Europe and Asia, because of the changing global climate. The year-round ice in the Arctic has dramatically diminished, meaning that the Arctic Ocean is now open for ship traffic for at least part of the year. The result is a reduction in the journey beetween Asia and Europe from 11,500 miles to 6,000 miles — almost half the distance. The newly accessible Arctic is particularily significant for the United SAtates. “Explorers have …