The biggest climate records hit this year
2023 climate change records The Week
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Record Low Antarctic Sea Ice Extent Raises Concerns
Winter in the Southern Hemisphere is when Antarctic ice is supposed to form. However, this year “growth has been stunted,” and the amount of sea ice in the region is “hitting a record low by a wide margin,” per The New York Times. “The Antarctic sea ice extent low in 2023 is unprecedented in the satellite record,” Liping Zhang, a project scientist at the NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, wrote in an email to the Times.
The previous record low was from 2022, but this year the ice level is approximately 1.6 million square kilometers below last year, CNN reported. “The Antarctic system has always been highly variable,” Ted Scambos, a glaciologist at the University of Colorado Boulder, told CNN. “This [current] level of variation, though, is so extreme that something radical has changed in the past two years, but especially this year, relative to all previous years going back at least 45 years.”
The warmer ocean temperatures are likely mixing into Antarctic waters, preventing ice from forming. Melting ice is a key factor in sea level rise. Ice also serves to reflect back sunlight, helping to regulate global temperatures.
Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- The record low Antarctic sea ice extent highlights the urgent need to address climate change and its impacts on SDG 13: Climate Action.
- The decrease in sea ice formation can contribute to rising sea levels, affecting coastal communities and ecosystems, which aligns with SDG 14: Life Below Water.
- The extreme variation in Antarctic sea ice levels emphasizes the importance of understanding and mitigating the effects of climate change on SDG 15: Life on Land.
Conclusion
The unprecedented low Antarctic sea ice extent raises concerns about the changing climate and its potential consequences. It serves as a reminder of the pressing need to prioritize sustainable development and take action to achieve the SDGs. Addressing climate change and its impacts is crucial for the well-being of our planet and future generations.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters | – Record low Antarctic sea ice extent – Warmer ocean temperatures mixing into Antarctic waters |
| SDG 14: Life Below Water | Target 14.3: Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification | – Warmer ocean temperatures mixing into Antarctic waters |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems | – Melting ice in Antarctica contributing to sea level rise |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships | – Collaboration between scientific institutions and organizations to study and address the changes in Antarctic sea ice levels |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
The SDGs addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article are:
– SDG 13: Climate Action
– SDG 14: Life Below Water
– SDG 15: Life on Land
– SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets under the identified SDGs are:
– Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
– Target 14.3: Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification
– Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems
– Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
– Record low Antarctic sea ice extent: This indicates the impact of climate change on the Antarctic region and can be used to measure progress towards Target 13.1 (Climate Action).
– Warmer ocean temperatures mixing into Antarctic waters: This indicates the impact of climate change on ocean ecosystems and can be used to measure progress towards Target 14.3 (Life Below Water).
– Melting ice in Antarctica contributing to sea level rise: This indicates the impact of climate change on terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and can be used to measure progress towards Target 15.1 (Life on Land).
– Collaboration between scientific institutions and organizations to study and address the changes in Antarctic sea ice levels: This indicates efforts towards partnerships and can be used to measure progress towards Target 17.17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: theweek.com
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