Arctic on the brink: Climate change threat by 2100
According to the latest reports, by 2100, the Arctic will undergo significant changes. If global warming continues unchecked, the region will face increased temperatures. This will lead to the disappearance of permafrost, and the accelerated melting of Greenland's ice cover will cause rising sea and ocean levels.
Recent research suggests that the Arctic may undergo drastic changes by 2100 if climate change progresses. The air temperatures in 2024 rose more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, resulting in extreme weather events.
The report titled "Disappearing landscapes: The Arctic at +2.7°C global warming" states that the Arctic is warming four times faster than the rest of the planet. Climate researchers warn that with a temperature increase of 2.7 degrees Celsius, this region will witness extreme changes, including ice-free summer months and an accelerated melting of Greenland's ice cover.
Changes will affect entire ecosystems
In the years to come, the Arctic region will experience extended summer periods when the seas will be free of ice. The permafrost layer on the surface may reduce by half compared to pre-industrial times. Additionally, air temperatures are expected to surpass those known from that era almost daily.
With the melting of Greenland's ice cover, there will be a rapid rise in sea levels, posing risks to infrastructure, ecosystems, and local communities and wildlife. Even if global temperatures do not rise by more than 2.7 degrees, the Arctic will still face ice-free periods and rising sea levels.
Dirk Notz from the University of Hamburg stresses that humanity has the power to destroy entire landscapes but also the responsibility to protect them. The future of the Arctic lies in our hands, and taking action to mitigate climate change is essential.
The entire world will feel the consequences
Climate change could also result in the disappearance of 99 percent of coral reefs and expose hundreds of millions of people to extreme and hazardous weather conditions. Consequently, many plant and animal species may become extinct, forcing people into climate-induced migration. We have been witnessing the effects of the climate crisis for many years; if we fail to halt the rise in temperature, the world as we know it will cease to exist.
