In response to experts warning of serious consequences after the Antarctic ice melt rate tripled in a decade, DNC spokesperson Daniel Wessel released the following statement:

“This is absolutely alarming. As the Trump administration continues to ignore and try to erase climate science, actual scientists have issued a warning that we have only a short window to cut greenhouse gas emissions if we hope to avert some of the worst consequences of climate change — including sea level rise. Trump’s policies and his refusal to take action have now endangered coastal communities, could hurt our nation’s economy and even put our national security at risk.

“This was not inevitable, but now Trump has left us little time to prepare against a rapidly growing threat. The American people expect their president to protect them at all costs — and that includes against climate change.”

Washington Post: Antarctic ice loss has tripled in a decade. If that continues we are in serious trouble.

Antarctica’s ice sheet is melting at a rapidly increasing rate, now pouring more than 200 billion tons of ice into the ocean annually and raising sea levels a half millimeter every year, a team of 80 scientists reported Wednesday.

The melt rate has tripled in the past decade, the study concluded. If the acceleration continues, some of scientists’ worst fears about rising oceans could be realized, leaving low-lying cities and communities with less time to prepare than they’d hoped.

The result also reinforces that nations have a short window — perhaps no more than a decade — to cut greenhouse gas emissions if they hope to avert some of the worst consequences of climate change.

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