The Penguins.

Penguins in Antarctica face a dire threat from climate change, with their survival in jeopardy by the end of the century due to human activities. The rapid warming of the region, currently 2.30°F above average, is melting the ice that serves as both their habitat and food source. Antarctic sea ice has shrunk by over 60% in the past three decades, and scientists predict 70% of penguin colonies could vanish by 2050, with all colonies potentially extinct by 2100.

The melting ice disrupts penguin breeding, as they depend on ice to raise their young. In 2016, the early ice melt in Halley Bay caused 10,000 chicks to perish before developing waterproof feathers. Penguins also face food shortages as krill, their primary food source, is declining due to the loss of sea ice, which supports the algae krill feed on. The Chinstrap penguin population has plummeted by 77% since 1970, largely due to the decreasing availability of krill.

Human actions, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, are driving the build-up of greenhouse gases, which trap heat in the atmosphere and accelerate the melting of polar ice. However, switching to green energy could slow these impacts. By meeting the Paris Climate Agreement target of limiting global warming to under 2.7°F, we could reduce penguin colony losses to 20%. The future of penguins hinges on the decisions made in the coming years.