Even 1.5 degrees Celsius is not enough to prevent severe damage to the polar ice cap

A recent report highlights the urgent need for drastic measures to combat global warming and protect the cryosphere from irreversible damage. UN scientists indicate that humanity has missed the chance to keep temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius, as outlined in the Paris Agreement. Instead, the focus has shifted to mitigating the duration of warming. To prevent lasting harm to the cryosphere, significant carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere is necessary to maintain temperature increases below 1 degree Celsius by 2150. Current trends could lead to a 3-degree rise, resulting in the melting of permafrost and disruption of ocean currents, exacerbating ocean acidification. The report warns that even limiting warming to 1.5 degrees may not reverse many climate impacts, with current policies projected to lead to a 2.8-degree increase, severely reducing glacier mass in key regions.