Natural warming cycle, less ice at the North Pole means higher ocean temperatures in the area causing the ice to form slower after a certain degree in the surrounding ocean is reached, it is way to late to stop this and it couldn't be stopped anyway.  However, instead of the effects of global warming we should be looking at the future effects of the next ice age...what is happening now is a precursor to the next ice age.  When precipitation starts reaching record levels in the north ...watch out!  This is following the same pattern as every natural ice age on Earth, 1) warming trend 2) increase in precipitation 3) temperatures start to decrease 4) longer winters 5) disruption of migratory patterns of birds and some animals 6) spring and summer shorten 7) large build up of ice at the pole and glaciers gain ice along with new glaciers, once it starts it might only take a decade before it becomes full blown.