State of the Cryosphere Report 2025

Ice Loss = Global Damage

Current unambitious climate commitments, leading the world to well over 2°C of warming, spell disaster for billions of people from global ice loss, but that damage can still be prevented, according to an assessment released today.

Latest research detailed in the 2025 State of the Cryosphere Report notes thresholds likely at just 1°C of warming for the stability of the polar ice sheets, and even lower temperatures for many glaciers. The Report also notes however that the most proactive climate pathways, also released today, can bring down temperatures below 1.5°C by 2100 and below 1°C next century – but only if reductions begin immediately.

Key findings include: Slowing sea-level rise to a manageable level requires a long-term temperature goal at or even below 1°C. Staying even at current warming levels of 1.2°C will likely lead to several meters of sea-level rise over the coming centuries, potentially exceeding coastal adaptation limits. The European Alps, Scandinavia, North American Rockies and Iceland would lose at least half their ice at or below sustained global temperatures of 1°C, and nearly all ice at 2°C. Sea ice at both poles has declined year-round, and combined Arctic and Antarctica sea ice extent hit its lowest area ever in February 2025. Ocean acidification has passed critical thresholds in the Arctic and parts of the Southern Ocean, with some regions reaching non-survivable levels for shelled life. Permafrost is now confirmed as a net source of carbon emissions, releasing more carbon into the atmosphere than these ecosystems can absorb.

Reviewed and supported by over 50 leading cryosphere scientists, this is the latest report in the State of the Cryosphere series, which takes the pulse of the cryosphere on an annual basis. The cryosphere is the name given to Earth’s snow and ice regions and ranges from ice sheets, glaciers, snow and permafrost to sea ice and the polar oceans – which are acidifying far more rapidly than warmer waters. The report describes how a combination of melting polar ice sheets, vanishing glaciers, and thawing permafrost will have rapid, irreversible, and disastrous impacts worldwide.

If you are interested in supporting ICCI’s work to translate this report into more languages, please contact Global Outreach Director (Amy Imdieke) at amy@iccinet.org.

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