Emmanuel Macron pledges €1bn to fund research into melting ice caps

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🗞️ Driving the news: French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged €1bn to fund research into the world's melting ice caps and glaciers
• This commitment includes a new polar science vessel and a call for a moratorium on seabed exploitation in polar regions

🔭 The context: The announcement was made at a summit in Paris, attended by heads of state and scientists, highlighting the urgent need to address the rapidly accelerating transformation of the Earth's cryosphere

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The melting ice caps are a significant concern for scientists, with heatwaves at both poles and record ocean temperatures
• The loss of ice caps, which reflect sunlight, could be a tipping point for climate change, leading to rapid heating

⏭️ What's next: The summit emphasized the need for immediate action and innovative solutions, such as refreezing the Arctic ocean
• The focus is also on understanding and preventing tipping points in the climate system

💬 One quote: "We are not talking about a threat for tomorrow, but one that is already present and accelerating" (Emmanuel Macron, French President)

📈 One stat: Half of the world's 200,000 glaciers are set to disappear by the end of the century, with the rate of sea level rise having doubled in the last two decades

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