The ice-covered regions on Earth are facing the risk of irreversible injuries, if global warming crosses a long range of 1.5 degrees Celsius, scientists warn in a report supported by the United Nations.
According to the study, the melting of glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica is taking place about six times as early as the 1990s, and the effects can continue even if global temperatures decline again.
The report is prepared by 80 scientists, in collaboration with the International Initiative for the Criosphere Climate and the United Nations Environment Programme.
Experts warn that the loss of polar ice could cause rise in sea levels, threatening hundreds of millions of people living in coastal areas. The decay of permafrosts can also release gases that further accelerate the warming of the planet.
According to the report, even a temporary crossing of the 1.5 °C could cause changes that would take centuries or millenniums to recover.
Scientists point out that lower greenhouse gas emissions remain crucial to limit damage and protect earth’s icy ecosystems.
The report comes on the eve of the upcoming United Nations climate conference, where states are expected to discuss new measures to cope with the climate crisis.
Source Layer: Dukeagini