Canberra( The COW News Digital) Scientists have issued a stark warning that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is on the brink of catastrophic collapse, a development that could raise global sea levels by as much as 9.8 feet (three meters).
The alarming findings were published by researchers at the Australian National University (ANU), who point to the combined impacts of rising global temperatures and continued carbon dioxide emissions as the primary drivers of ice sheet destabilization.
According to the study, the ice sheet in West Antarctica has been weakening rapidly, with cracks and thinning ice accelerating in recent decades. If the ice sheet were to collapse, the consequences would be devastating: coastal cities and low-lying communities around the world could be submerged, displacing millions of people and causing trillions of dollars in damages to infrastructure and economies.
Lead author Dr. Nerilie Abram explained that Antarctica is experiencing unprecedented environmental changes in its ice, ocean, and atmospheric systems. She warned that every fraction of a degree of global warming makes the risk significantly worse. “We are witnessing rapid changes in Antarctica, and the trajectory is clear—the more greenhouse gases we emit, the higher the chances of irreversible collapse,” she said.
The West Antarctic Ice Sheet has long been considered one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change due to its grounding line being below sea level, making it highly sensitive to ocean warming. Once a tipping point is crossed, scientists believe the collapse could be unstoppable, unfolding over centuries but locking in irreversible sea-level rise.
Environmental experts argue that this warning highlights the urgent need for global cooperation on emission reductions and stronger climate policies. Without immediate action, major cities such as New York, Shanghai, London, Karachi, and Sydney could face catastrophic flooding within the coming centuries.
The study also emphasizes that proactive steps—such as rapidly transitioning to renewable energy, reducing fossil fuel dependence, and investing in climate adaptation measures—remain humanity’s only option to mitigate the threat.
As the world debates climate targets, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet stands as a critical warning sign of how close the planet is to crossing dangerous thresholds. Scientists stress that the time to act is now before the world faces irreversible environmental and humanitarian consequences.
