Major losses from Earth’s ice sheets and mountain glaciers can occur at temperatures well below 1.5°C. Lead authors of two 2025 papers – one on ice sheets, the second on glaciers – urged governments in a press conference at SB62 in June 2025 to adopt far more ambitious climate commitments to prevent the worst impacts. Historical records show that even current warming levels at 1.2°C, if sustained, will likely lead to several meters of sea-level rise over coming centuries from both polar ice sheets. Earth’s glaciers face an equally dire fate, with four regions – the European Alps, Rockies of the Western U.S. and Canada, Iceland, and Scandinavia – committed to losing at least half their ice at or below sustained 1°C. These same regions lose nearly all ice at 2°C. Speakers included Dr. Chris Stokes, Durham University; Dr. Harry Zekollari, Vrije Universiteit Brussel; and Dr. James Kirkham, AMI Chief Science Advisor at ICCI.
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By Science Writing Intern Aubree Klein, Global Outreach Director Amy Imdieke, and ICCI Director Pam Pearson.
Published Aug. 3, 2026 Updated Aug. 3, 2026 11:37 pm