Shrinking ice sheets could turn green as CO2 rises

Man-made climate change could make Antarctica go green as ice sheets shrink and plants colonise the land again, scientists have said.

The last time carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere were as high as today – at around 400 parts per million (ppm) – was three million years ago during the Pliocene period.

Experts believe looking at this era could provide clues about the future of the planet and help humans understand the pressures they may face.

Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere reached 400 ppm on average for thefirsttimein2015,world Meteorological Organisation figures show.

However, there is likely to be a “lag” before the true effects of hitting this threshold are felt, according to Professor Martin Siegert, co-director of the Grantham Institute, Imperial College.