Topics: Climate Science, Impacts and adaptation, Mitigation
Type: Briefing paper
Publication date: February 2026

Download

  • [PDF]

Summary

The Antarctic Peninsula, part of the British Antarctic Territory,鈥痠s a global biodiversity hotspot,鈥痑nd鈥痑 focus of tourism, scientific and fishing鈥痮perations.鈥疶he region is warming rapidly, at up to two times the global rate of鈥�0.27°C per decade.鈥� 

This鈥疨olicy鈥疊rief presents the key findings of research into the threats posed鈥痶o the Peninsula under three global warming scenarios.鈥疘t provides a vital update to research published in 2019 that examined the impacts of warming limited to鈥�1.5°C, a scenario that is now unachievable.鈥� 

贰苍辩耻颈谤颈别蝉:鈥�产别迟丑补苍.诲补惫颈别蝉蔼苍肠濒.补肠.耻办鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

贬别补诲濒颈苍别蝉鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

The Antarctic Peninsula, part of British Antarctic Territory, is warming rapidly, up to two times the global mean rate of 0.27°C per decade.鈥疭ubstantial and irreparable environmental damage to the Antarctic Peninsula鈥痺ill occur鈥痠f global warming exceeds 2°C.鈥� 

Significant loss of sea ice, ice shelf collapse and glacier recession risk self-perpetuating processes that will amplify polar warming and influence global climate, ocean鈥痗irculation鈥痑nd sea level.鈥� 

The changing Antarctic Peninsula climate has ramifications for species migration and loss, with impacts on krill, fishing, and food chains for large marine mammals. Extreme weather has led to flooded penguin nest sites and low sea ice, leading to failures of Emperor Penguin breeding colonies.鈥� 

Action to rapidly reduce carbon emissions can limit long term and severe impacts on the Antarctic Peninsula, including impacts to marine and terrestrial biodiversity and human operations, and limit wider ramifications for global systems.鈥� 

Global warming will require a more flexible and dynamic approach to marine protected areas and other initiatives designed to conserve biodiversity in the Southern Ocean鈥痑nd Antarctic continent.鈥� 

Environmental changes on the Peninsula,鈥痑longside increased shipping, tourism and fishing, may place stress on the Antarctic Treaty System and associated legal instruments.鈥� 

础耻迟丑辞谤蝉:鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

Professor Bethan Davies, Newcastle University鈥� 

Professor Angus Atkinson, Plymouth Marine Laboratory鈥� 

Professor Alison鈥疊anwell, Northumbria University鈥�� 

Professor Mark Brandon MBE, Open University.鈥� 

Professor Peter Convey, British Antarctic Survey鈥� 

Dr Thomas Caton Harrison, British Antarctic Survey鈥�� 

Dr Jan De鈥疪ydt, Northumbria University鈥� 

Professor Klaus鈥疍odds, RAND Europe鈥� 

Rod鈥疍ownie, WWF-UK鈥� 

Professor Tamsin Edwards, Kings College London鈥� 

Dr Ella Gilbert, British Antarctic Survey鈥� 

Professor Bryn Hubbard, Aberystwyth University鈥� 

Dr Kevin Hughes, British Antarctic Survey鈥� 

Professor鈥疛oeri鈥疪ogelj, ImperiaCollege鈥疞ondon鈥� 

Jane Rumble OBE, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office鈥� 

Dr Gareth Marshall, British Antarctic Survey鈥� 

Dr Andrew Orr, British鈥疉ntarctic Survey鈥� 

Professor Helene Seroussi, Dartmouth鈥疌ollege鈥� 

Professor Martin鈥疭iegert, Exeter鈥疷niversity鈥� 

Professor Julienne Stroeve, University College London鈥� 

Academic publications

Search our academic publications