Antarctic tipping points – new report

1 June, 2023

Concern is rising about tipping points in the Antarctic region. Recent heatwaves, changes in the Southern Ocean, and a reduction in the extent of Antarctic sea ice suggest that we may be closing in on tipping points.

These are defined as a critical threshold beyond which a system reorganises in a self-sustaining and/or irreversible manner. Once these tipping points are crossed major changes will occur, or begin to occur, in Antarctica. Alongside impacts on global sea level and climate, these changes will have consequences for ecosystems, including in important ecosystem services such as fisheries and carbon regulation.

Read the full report here