Arctic summer sea ice has shrunk by half since the 1970s, and scientists advising G7 leaders warn that the consequences will be felt far beyond the polar region.
Issued on: 25/05/2026 - RFI
The Science 7 meet took place in Paris on the 18th and 19th of May 2026.
© ADSciences/Mathieu Baumer
By: Dhananjay Khadilkar
Scientists advising G7 leaders warn that the consequences will be felt far beyond the polar region. Ahead of this year's G7 summit in France, the national science academies of the seven member countries convened to draw up recommendations on the most pressing global issues.
The Arctic topped the agenda, alongside large constellations of satellites and brain health, with joint statements issued on all three subjects.
Why the Arctic matters
Speaking to RFI English, Laurent Bopp, a member of the French Academy of Sciences and coordinator of the study group on the Arctic, said the immediate and sustained reduction of greenhouse gas emissions was the group's top priority.
"The loss of sea ice, the melting of Greenland ice, the thawing of permafrost and the modification of ocean circulation within the Arctic has consequences on the global climate system," he said.
Other recommendations include limiting polluting activities in and around the Arctic, expanding long-term data collection, and ensuring that findings are open, transparent and shared with all countries. The group also called for advancing evidence-based adaptation, deepening research on systemic and high-impact risks, and engaging indigenous and local knowledge in governance and leadership.
The Arctic may be the world's smallest ocean, accounting for just one percent of global ocean volume, but its role in regulating the climate is outsized. Scientists warn of several self-reinforcing feedback loops already under way.
As sea ice retreats, the Arctic ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide, accelerating acidification and threatening the marine organisms that have adapted to stable conditions built up over thousands of years. The open ocean surface also absorbs far more solar radiation than the reflective ice it replaces, amplifying warming across the region.
"When the sea ice is removed and replaced with the ocean surface, it will absorb much more solar radiation, thus amplifying the warming in the Arctic," Bopp said.
At the same time, thawing permafrost is triggering a parallel feedback loop. "A lot of organic matter in that soil will decompose to produce CO2 and methane, which are important greenhouse gases leading to amplification of global warming," he said.
"All coastal communities are, and would be, affected by the melting of Greenland ice," Bopp added, pointing to the long-term implications for global sea levels.
Ripple effects on weather
Physical oceanographer Camille Lique, of the IFREMER institute in Brest, says the consequences extend to atmospheric and oceanic circulation worldwide. The melting of Arctic ice modifies the properties of the ocean itself, she explains, with currents then propagating those changes to lower latitudes.
Changes in Arctic sea-ice conditions are expected to affect the AMOC, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, one of the key regulators of climate and weather in western Europe.
"We expect more severe, extreme events like cold waves that have been documented in North America and Europe. We think they are related to the disappearance of sea ice in the Arctic," she said.
French President Emmanuel Macron met with the science group on 19 May at the Élysée Palace, commending their joint declaration. The G7 summit itself takes place from 15 to 17 June in Évian-les-Bains.
By: Dhananjay Khadilkar
Scientists advising G7 leaders warn that the consequences will be felt far beyond the polar region. Ahead of this year's G7 summit in France, the national science academies of the seven member countries convened to draw up recommendations on the most pressing global issues.
The Arctic topped the agenda, alongside large constellations of satellites and brain health, with joint statements issued on all three subjects.
Why the Arctic matters
Speaking to RFI English, Laurent Bopp, a member of the French Academy of Sciences and coordinator of the study group on the Arctic, said the immediate and sustained reduction of greenhouse gas emissions was the group's top priority.
"The loss of sea ice, the melting of Greenland ice, the thawing of permafrost and the modification of ocean circulation within the Arctic has consequences on the global climate system," he said.
Other recommendations include limiting polluting activities in and around the Arctic, expanding long-term data collection, and ensuring that findings are open, transparent and shared with all countries. The group also called for advancing evidence-based adaptation, deepening research on systemic and high-impact risks, and engaging indigenous and local knowledge in governance and leadership.
The Arctic may be the world's smallest ocean, accounting for just one percent of global ocean volume, but its role in regulating the climate is outsized. Scientists warn of several self-reinforcing feedback loops already under way.
As sea ice retreats, the Arctic ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide, accelerating acidification and threatening the marine organisms that have adapted to stable conditions built up over thousands of years. The open ocean surface also absorbs far more solar radiation than the reflective ice it replaces, amplifying warming across the region.
"When the sea ice is removed and replaced with the ocean surface, it will absorb much more solar radiation, thus amplifying the warming in the Arctic," Bopp said.
At the same time, thawing permafrost is triggering a parallel feedback loop. "A lot of organic matter in that soil will decompose to produce CO2 and methane, which are important greenhouse gases leading to amplification of global warming," he said.
"All coastal communities are, and would be, affected by the melting of Greenland ice," Bopp added, pointing to the long-term implications for global sea levels.
Ripple effects on weather
Physical oceanographer Camille Lique, of the IFREMER institute in Brest, says the consequences extend to atmospheric and oceanic circulation worldwide. The melting of Arctic ice modifies the properties of the ocean itself, she explains, with currents then propagating those changes to lower latitudes.
Changes in Arctic sea-ice conditions are expected to affect the AMOC, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, one of the key regulators of climate and weather in western Europe.
"We expect more severe, extreme events like cold waves that have been documented in North America and Europe. We think they are related to the disappearance of sea ice in the Arctic," she said.
French President Emmanuel Macron met with the science group on 19 May at the Élysée Palace, commending their joint declaration. The G7 summit itself takes place from 15 to 17 June in Évian-les-Bains.
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