With the ice melting in Antarctica – three times faster than the rate in the early 1990s.
The new figures reveal that sea ice at the South Pole is now 1.5 million square kilometres below average for this time of year; that’s equal to the combined surface area of Portugal, Spain, France and Germany combined.
“What happened in Antarctica doesn’t stay in Antarctica. “We live in an interconnected world. Melting sea ice means rising seas. And that directly endangers lives and livelihoods in coastal communities across the globe.
The impact of floods and saltwater on food and water supplies is at stake, but the viability of small islands and entire cities on coasts across the world.
“The movement of waters around Antarctica distributes heat, nutrients and carbon around the world, helping to regulate climate and regional weather patterns.
“But that system is slowing as the southern Ocean grows warmer and less dense. Further slowdown – or entire breakdown – would spell catastrophe
With fuel extraction “we’re heading towards a calamitous tee-degree Celsius temperature rise by the end of this century.
If we continue as we are, we strongly hope we will not, with the Greenland and West Antarctica ice sheets cross a deadly tipping point.”
This represents an astonishing rise of around 10 metres.
The vicious cycle means accelerated heating as ice diminishes and more extreme weather.
At COP28 in Dubai, which starts later this week, “leaders must break this cycle..
“The solutions are well known. Leaders must act to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, protect people from climate chaos, and end the fossil fuel age.”
Only a global pact to triple renewable energy use, a doubling in energy efficiency and access to clean power for all by 2030, will be sufficient..
We salute the thousands of researchers – in Antarctica and around the world – expanding our understanding of the changes taking place on the continent.
“They are testament to human ingenuity and the immense benefits of international collaboration. Leaders must not let the hopes of people around the world for a sustainable planet melt away.”