Polar ice loss could trigger Australia's coastal flooding, Australian Antarctic Research Conference alarms

Hundreds of scientists gathered at the "emergency summit" at the University of Tasmania in Hobart, where about 500 polar researchers participated, to discuss Antarctica's uncertain future. The Australian Antarctic Research Conference clearly sent a clear message that urgent action is needed to prevent the melting of Antarctica's ice and the catastrophic rise in sea levels worldwide.

"Nowhere on Earth is there a greater cause of uncertainty in sea level rise projections than from East Antarctica, in Australia's backyard. The East Antarctic ice sheet alone holds enough water to raise global sea levels by approximately 50 metres if completely melted. Implications for our coastal cities and infrastructure are immense," states a declaration signed by 500 polar scientists.

They further note that "The services of the Southern Ocean and Antarctica — oceanic carbon sink and planetary air conditioner — have been taken for granted. Global warming induced shifts observed in the region are immense. Recent research has shown record low sea ice, extreme heatwaves exceeding 40 degrees Celsius above average temperatures, and increased instability around key ice shelves. Shifting ecosystems on land and at sea underscore this sensitive region’s rapid and unprecedented transformations."

Scientists also warn in a statement that "ice loss causing rapid and catastrophic sea-level rise is possible within our lifetimes." They also ponder whether irreversible tipping points have already been passed and—most worryingly—believe they cannot be determined. Our societies must set and meet targets to ‘bend the carbon curve’ as quickly as possible. Failure to rapidly reduce emissions – every year and every tonne – commits actual and future generations to greater sea-level rise," scientists write.

According to the Australian Antarctic Program Partnership (AAPP), the organization behind the Australian summit, global sea levels have risen by about 4 inches over the past 30 years. Melting ice from Antarctica, mainly due to climate change, is one of the main contributors to this rise. As the AAPP warns, if the world increases its greenhouse gas emissions, coastal cities in Australia are likely to see a sea-level rise of about 31 inches by 2100.

As scientists emphasize, to mitigate the impending disaster, the world must implement "deep, rapid, and sustained" reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.