COP30 in Brazil ended without a mention of the need to phase out fossil fuels, in spite of growing damage from climate warming impacts. These UN negotiations have to be reshaped, the influence of the fossil fuel industry reduced while the transition to a low-carbon world speeds on elsewhere.
Given the heated times we live in, (in all the senses of the word) it was highly unlikely that this year's State of the Cryosphere Report would bring good news about the impacts of climate warming on our frozen regions. Global ice loss is not letting up any time soon. On the contrary. Ten years after the signing of the Paris Agreement, ice and snow loss is accelerating. If anything should convince the delegates attending COP30 in Brazil of the need for ambitious and urgent action, this latest assessment of the state of our frozen regions should. This is not just about ice and snow. As the Report's title says: Ice Loss = Global Damage.
The polar regions are undergoing alarming climate changes, particularly in Antarctica, where ice loss is accelerating. A study warns that geoengineering solutions are unlikely to be effective, distracting from essential emission reduction efforts. Immediate, evidence-based actions are necessary to combat climate change and achieve net-zero emissions to stabilize global temperatures.
Whether you look at science or news reports of weather extremes across the globe, there can be no doubt climate warming is already playing havoc with our livels. So why is the willingness to do something about it decreasing? How can we bridge the huge gap between the threat we face from climate change and the lack of action to respond?
Accelerating ice melt from glaciers worldwide means an increased loss of freshwater resources, ever-faster sea level rise and life-threatening floods and landslides. In some regions, ice loss is already overtaking scientists’ worst-case climate scenarios. Only urgent emissions cuts can make a difference. The first time I ever saw and walked upon a glacier was in …
Continue reading First UN World Day for Glaciers – A call to climate action in desperate times
Trump leaves Paris (Agreement) and sets his sights on Greenland – China and Russia flex muscles in the Arctic, as climate warming transforms the icy north. Business boom or global climate catastrophe?
Greenland melt, ocean heatwaves, AMOC slowing, polar bears starving - Arctic developments so far in 2024 might give you the Climate Blues. Is there light on the horizon?
2022 has seen exceptional warmth and ice melt in the Arctic, with consequences for the whole planet. But against the background of Russia's war on Ukraine, climate action has stalled. It's high time to cut emissions and speed up the energy transition.
The Ice Blog 