Thursday, August 27, 2026

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

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Overview

Convenors: Maya Gold, Dr Krystyna Saunders

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Details

Australia’s presidency of the UNFCCC COP31 in Türkiye and the pre-COP events in Fiji and Tuvalu, with its focus on the Pacific region, presents an opportunity to highlight the linkages between Antarctica and the Pacific region to a global audience. Australian-led Antarctic research is contributing to the global understanding of climate change impacts. The changes rapidly unfolding in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, including melting ice sheets, warmer air and ocean temperatures, and declining sea-ice extent, hold the potential for sea level rise and other climate effects with profound impacts on all nations in the Pacific region. This session will bring together researchers and policy makers with expertise on Antarctic climate variability and change, climate change impacts and the Pacific region, as well as global climate negotiations for an open discussion. The intent is to start a multi-disciplinary dialogue of how Antarctic climate science can help inform understanding of climate change impacts in the Pacific. Agenda: 9:00am - 9:10am: Opening Video and Remarks - Krystyna Saunders, Antarctic Climate Program Leader, AAD 9:10am - 9:25am: Virtual Presentation/Pacific Context - Judith Giblin, Ocean and Coastal Risk Data Analyst at Pacific Community - SPC 9:25am - 10:00am: Presentations - 3 x 12 min with Panel Facilitator Felicity McCormack – Antarctic Ice Sheets/SLR Karen Palmer- Antarctic - Links to Aus/Pacific Coastal Hazards, Risk Kelsey Grey- DCCEEW COP Negotiations- Process/Priorities 10:00am - 10:30am: Facilitated Discussion, including closing remarks The panel will consist of Judith Giblin, Felicity McCormack, Karen Palmer, Kelsey Gray and K Verell, with Krystyna Saunders as the facilitator Expected outcome/s Discussion on research connections between Antarctic climate change and variability, and impacts on the Pacific, and relevance to the global climate negotiation process.