The Arctic is currently warming three to four times faster than the rest of the world. Melting sea ice, thawing permafrost, rapidly retreating land ice and intensifying wildfires are already impacting Arctic ecosystems. These changes have devastating consequences on local and indigenous populations and will impact the lives and livelihoods of billions of people beyond the Arctic circle. This COP27 session underscored the global impacts of cryosphere loss, specifically in terms of sea level rise, extreme weather, pollution, reduced food security, and rapid ocean acidification. Speakers included Dr. Maxine Burkett, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans, Fisheries and Polar Affairs in the U.S. Department of State\u2019s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES); Susanna Israelsson, member of the S\u00e1mi Council from Jiellev\u00e1rre in the northern part of Swedish S\u00e1pmi; Dr. Jason Box, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland; Dr. John Walsh, International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks; and Dr. James Overland, NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL).<\/p>\n