Rising carbon dioxide levels, now at 421 ppm, exceed anything seen in human history. Scientists look to the distant Pliocene epoch—over three million years ago—when evergreen forests reached the Arctic shores, to gauge what a future with drastically reduced ice might hold.

In 2024, Earth recorded its hottest year ever, crossing a critical climate threshold and setting an alarming precedent for global temperatures. This unprecedented heat surge highlights escalating concerns over global warming and underscores the urgency in addressing climate change.