Melting Polar Ice and Glaciers The Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the global average, causing rapid loss of sea ice, Greenland’s ice sheet, and mountain glaciers worldwide. This contributes significantly to sea-level rise—threatening coastal cities, island nations, and freshwater supplies for millions who depend on glacial meltwater (e.g., in the Himalayas). Ice loss also reduces Earth’s albedo, accelerating warming in a dangerous feedback loop. Thawing permafrost releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Indigenous Arctic communities face cultural and physical displacement. While the 2015 Paris Agreement aims to limit warming, current trajectories suggest ice-free Arctic summers by 2030s. Protecting polar regions requires drastic emissions cuts and international cooperation, as their fate is inextricably linked to global climate stability.
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