Why should we worry about climate change?

“Even if we reduced emissions by 100% —something impossible today—, it would not have an immediate effect to stop current trends. But the projections of climate models are very clear: if we reduce emissions now, the future within a few decades will be very different. If we do nothing, it will be much worse than if we act significantly today.” — Arild Sundfjord, senior researcher and director of the Arctic Ocean Program.

I fully agree with Sundfjord. In fact, it is exactly what I have been warning since 2018 under the premise: “The line has been crossed, there is no return”. The only difference is that he warns from the northern hemisphere and I do so from the southern hemisphere.

Many professionals and scientists share this diagnosis, but unfortunately we are not heard nor are we given due attention in the media and in the political sphere.

The impact on wildlife: Will polar bears disappear?

New climate modeling studies suggest that some polar bear populations will disappear completely in the coming decades. The long-term forecast depends on how long sea ice persists in refuge areas.

Currently, efforts are being made to protect the so-called “last ice area” (in northern Canada and northwestern Greenland), where the ice will last longer. If we manage to preserve this environment and its food source, the species could survive in these areas; otherwise, global warming will continue to be devastating for them.

The agony of glaciers in Argentina: the case of Perito Moreno

The Perito Moreno glacier, historically known for maintaining stable behavior, is now losing mass at an alarming rate due to global warming. After decades of defying the global trend of retreat, this ice giant has entered a phase of accelerated melting:

• Tipping point: Since 2022, the glacier no longer returns to its previous position during seasonal cycles.

• Most affected area: The north margin, which is the deepest section of Lake Argentino (and the furthest from tourist walkways).

Declared a World Heritage Site in 1981, the Perito Moreno is no longer the exception. We are digging the grave of the world’s glaciers, and this is just the prelude to what is to come.

What is really climate change?

It is defined as the long-term alteration of the Earth’s temperatures and weather patterns. It is primarily driven by human activity, especially the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas), which releases greenhouse gases (GHG) that trap heat in the atmosphere.

To combat it, mitigation is key. According to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), this involves implementing policies and technologies aimed at:

1. Limiting and reducing GHG emissions.

2. Improving carbon sinks (such as forests and oceans).

3. Modifying our daily and economic activities to reduce environmental impact.

An unavoidable reality

Climate change is not a future threat; it is our current reality. In Argentina, its effects are already translating into extreme droughts, out-of-season rains, soil degradation, and alterations in water flows. Global warming exacerbates the frequency and intensity of these extreme weather events.

The planet is telling us that enough is enough. We should be doing much more.

By: Cristián Frers – Senior Technician in Environmental Management and Senior Technician in Social Communication (Journalist).