Kerry tours Arctic Circle to see climate change impact

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, stands with Norway's Foreign Minister Borge Brende as he boards his plane for a trip to view the Blomstrand Glacier, and areas impacted by climate change in Norway's extreme north, Thursday, June 16, 2016, in Oslo. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool) (The Associated Press)

Secretary of State John Kerry and Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment Vidar Helgesen hold up an agreement between the two countries to enhance collaboration to fight deforestation and climate change, during the Oslo REDD Exchange conference, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Oslo. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool) (The Associated Press)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, looks on as Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Oslo. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool) (The Associated Press)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is visiting Norway's extreme north to view areas impacted by climate change with melting ice and the opening of new sea lanes.

Kerry flew Thursday from the capital of Oslo to the small town of Svalbard in the Arctic Circle and was scheduled to visit Ny-Alesund, the northernmost civilian settlement in the world that is home to 15 Arctic research stations, as well as the Blomstrand Glacier, which has significantly receded in recent years.

Kerry has made the health of oceans and combating the effects of climate change a priority during his tenure as secretary of state and will host a third international conference on oceans in September.

After traveling to Denmark later Thursday, Kerry plans to visit icecaps in Greenland on Friday.