Nearly 500 polar scientists convened for an emergency summit in Australia to address the urgent situation in Antarctica and its implications for global sea levels.

Recent studies presented at the summit highlight alarming changes in Antarctica, including record-low sea ice, extreme heatwaves exceeding 40°C (72°F) above average, and increased instability of key ice shelves.

Currently, Antarctica is losing around 17 million tonnes of ice per hour, equivalent to a massive ice cube measuring 260 meters (853 feet) on each side.

Satellite data reveals that the rate of ice loss in Antarctica has surged to more than six times the rate observed three decades ago, with East Antarctica showing significant instability.

The Australian Antarctic Program Partnership reports that global sea levels have risen by up to 10.5 centimeters (over 4 inches) in the last 30 years, primarily due to melting ice from Antarctica.

If greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, Australian coastal cities could face a sea-level rise of 80 centimeters (31 inches) by the year 2100.

The East Antarctic Ice Sheet has the potential to raise global sea levels by approximately 50 meters (164 feet) if it were to completely melt, posing immense risks to coastal cities and infrastructure.

The conference culminated in a statement warning that runaway ice loss could lead to rapid and catastrophic sea-level rise within the lifetimes of current generations.

Scientists emphasize that while adaptation measures can help, there is an urgent need for deep, rapid, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the impending crisis.

The statement concludes with a call to action, stressing that every fraction of a degree in temperature matters and that targets must be set to reduce carbon emissions promptly.