Student Question

Why does Antarctica need protection and what are potential protection methods?

Quick answer:

Antarctica needs protection due to the impact of climate change, which is causing ice shelves and glaciers to recede, altering ecosystems. To protect the region, implementing government and industrial policies aimed at slowing or halting anthropogenic climate change is crucial. These measures would benefit Antarctica's environment and the global oceans.

Expert Answers

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Part of the threat to Antarctica (and the Arctic as well) is the altering of ecosystems in that area due to climate change. It is demonstrably the case that ice shelves and glaciers are receding, causing dramatic changes. While there are no quick solutions, government and industrial policies that help to slow or halt anthropogenic climate change would have direct benefits for the environment of Antarctic and our oceans as a whole.

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