Antarctica and climate change

Antarctica Climate Change Focal Project

Antarctica - the “canary in the mine”

As well as the Arctic, Antarctica plays an important role in the Earth’s climate system through its influences on the global atmospheric and oceanic circulations. Both polar region serve as a type of early warning system for pending catastrophes.

Antarctica’s environment is more threatened now by human activity than ever. Controversial activities such as tourism, whaling and over-fishing continue to pose threats to the continent’s unique wildlife. However, it is the change of climate that now poses the biggest threat to the entire Antarctic environment on a much larger scale.

Antarctica and climate change

The western Antarctic Peninsula is one of the regions that is suffering the most rapid warming on Earth – the average midwinter temperature has increased by 6 degrees Celsius since 1950; this is five times the global average^[1]. In some areas, sea ice now covers an area that is 40% less than it did 26 years ago. There is substantial scientific evidence that shows that Antarctica’s ecosystems are already undergoing major changes in areas that have experienced warming.

During the 20th century there were significant changes in air temperatures, sea-ice and ocean temperatures around the Antarctic Peninsula. Over 50% of the krill stock was lost in the Scotia Sea region, which is the major area for krill fishing. The decline in the abundance of krill in this area appears to be associated with changes in sea ice in the southern Scotia Sea and around the Antarctic Peninsula^[2]. Associated with reduced sea ice, weddell seal as well as adélie and emperor penguin populations have fallen.

What WWF is doing

WWF's Antarctic Climate Change Focal Project -ACCFP- provides up-to-date and consistent information on the impacts of temperature rises in Antarctica in order to encourage policy amendments and appropriate measures that tackle climate change. ACCFP also supports field-based projects in the region to collect information on climate change.

Another key field of work is generating and developing adaptation strategies for species and ecosystems in order to improve the response capacities to changing climatic conditions in the region.

In terms of public awareness, ACCFP’s mission is to spread and highlight the impact of climate change on Antarctica. WWF can reach world leaders and policy makers responsible for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).

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^[1] McClintock, J., et al; Ecological Responses to Climate Change on the Antarctic Peninsula, American Scientist, 2008
^[2]Atkinson et al., 2004