Emperor penguins rely on stable fast ice around Antarctica from April to December for successful breeding. The decline in Antarctic sea ice since 2016 has led to breeding failure at numerous colonies. Models suggest that 98% of colonies will be extinct by 2100 under a high-warming scenario, but this can be limited to 60% if the Paris Climate Agreement targets are met and efforts are made to limit warming to 1.5°C. This event summarized the latest science regarding emperor penguins, how they are impacted by ice changes, and policy implications. Speakers included Dr. Grant Macdonald from Durham University; Dr. Chris Auckland from the University of East Anglia; and Dr. James Kirkham, ICCI’s AMI Chief Science Advisor, as moderator.
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