Dormant volcanoes across Russia & Japan have begun erupting all of a sudden. Could this be linked to the rampant melting of glaciers across the globe? A new study warns that melting glaciers due to climate change could awaken dormant volcanoes worldwide. Research in Chile’s Andes shows that retreating ice reduces pressure on magma chambers, triggering more frequent and explosive eruptions—a pattern also seen in Iceland. This risk extends to Antarctica, North America, New Zealand, and Russia, where thick ice once suppressed volcanic activity. The process can create a feedback loop: warming melts ice, ice loss sparks eruptions, and eruptions release greenhouse gases that accelerate warming. Scientists stress the need for close monitoring in these vulnerable regions.

The article highlights Pacific Islanders’ urgent fight to limit global warming to 1.5°C, as climate change severely impacts their livelihoods, cultures, and ecosystems. Rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and extreme weather have already caused irreversible losses, with “Loss and Damage” costs soaring. Despite the creation of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage at COP28, progress is threatened by waning political will and shifting funds away from climate action. Pacific leaders demand both immediate financial support and an end to fossil fuels, insisting that holding the 1.5°C line is essential for their survival and cultural preservation.