On the eve of international climate talks, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited globally-important Antarctica, where ice that's been frozen for millions of years is melting due to human-caused climate change, to send the message that “we absolutely need to act immediately.”
“What happens in Antarctica doesn’t stay in Antarctica,” Guterres said. In addition to reflecting lots of sunlight away from the Earth, Antarctica regulates the planet's climate because its ice and cold waters drive major ocean currents. When massive amounts of ice melt, it raises sea levels and changes things like salinity and the habitats of ocean animals.
