Antarctica faces dire consequences as extreme events worsen, urgent action required

Worsening Extreme Events in Antarctica Require Immediate Action

Scientists have issued a warning that extreme events in Antarctica are set to worsen without immediate and drastic action to combat global heating. A new review has highlighted recent extremes in the region, including record low sea ice levels, the collapse of ice shelves, and surface temperatures up to 38.5C above average over East Antarctica in 2022. The study also noted that Antarctic land ice has been declining since the 1990s, contributing to rising sea levels. The rate of ice sheet loss from Antarctica matches the worst-case predictions made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for high greenhouse gas emissions scenarios. Ice shelves, which fringe three-quarters of the Antarctic coastline, have also retreated in recent decades, with several experiencing major ice calving events.

Fossil Fuel Burning Poses Significant Threat to Antarctica's Environment

The study's lead author, Prof Martin Siegert, warned that continued fossil fuel burning poses a significant threat to Antarctica's environment. The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science, concludes that future extreme events in Antarctica are likely to be more severe than those observed to date. The increasing occurrence of extreme events in Antarctica demonstrates that the policy response to the climate crisis has been inadequate, according to Prof Tim Naish of the Victoria University of Wellington. The research highlights the urgent need for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the consequences of climate change, including sea level rise and extreme weather events.

Urgent Action Needed to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The study's findings emphasize the urgent need for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the consequences of climate change in Antarctica. The research highlights the increasing occurrence of extreme events and the inadequacy of the policy response to the climate crisis. Prof Tim Naish of the Victoria University of Wellington stresses the need to address the threat posed by continued fossil fuel burning. Immediate and drastic action is necessary to combat global heating and mitigate the severity of future extreme events in Antarctica. This includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions and taking measures to adapt to rising sea levels and extreme weather events.