Categories: Cryosphere Capsules

COP28 Video of the Week: “Melting Ice Shelves Today Could Lead to the Collapse of West Antarctica”

Today’s temperatures have already locked in an unavoidable increase in West Antarctic ice shelf melting and rapid ocean warming, of approximately triple the historical rate through the end of the century. However, if global temperatures remain below the lower 1.5°C Paris limit, rates of ice shelf melting start to slow by 2100, suggesting that further losses beyond that date could still be slowed with strict emissions reductions. Dr. James Kirkham, AMI Chief Science Advisor and Coordinator, moderated this event. Speakers include Dr. Kaitlin Naughten, British Antarctic Survey, and Dr. Ronja Reese, Northumbria University.

Full paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-023-01818-x (for key policy takeaways, read our Capsule summary)
COP28 side event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co-V-RHoA5E

Pam Pearson

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