Permafrost covers nearly a quarter of the northern hemisphere at present and is estimated to contain 1,700 gigatonnes of carbon – twice the amount currently in the atmosphere. As it thaws, it could push global warming past one of the key "tipping points" that scientists believe could lead to runaway climate change.
The UN report says that Permafrost plays a key part in the planet's future because it contains large stores of frozen organic matter that, if thawed and released into the atmosphere, would amplify current global warming and propel us to a warmer world much sooner. Its potential impact on the climate, ecosystems and infrastructure has been neglected for too long.
As temperatures in the Arctic are rising faster than elsewhere, this could increase the danger of permafrost melting. Warming permafrost could emit 43 to 135 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide by 2100 and 246 to 415 gigatonnes by 2200, and emissions could start within the next few decades. Permafrost emissions could ultimately account for up to 39% of total emissions, as per the report.
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has asked the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the body of top climate scientists, to study the effect in detail. The IPCC provides governments with the up-to-date and most comprehensive knowledge on climate change.