Here's how Antarctica contributes $180 billion to the global economy

Antarctica and the Southern Ocean provide valuable services worth $180 billion annually. This includes industries like tourism and fisheries, both valued at $820 million and $370 million, respectively.

The crucial ecosystem processes like carbon storage and climate regulation, although they cannot be quantified, are equally, if not more important.

Quantifying the value of "ecosystem services" provided by Antarctica is more challenging. Some of these services include carbon storage, ice sheet stability, and global ocean circulation.

Scientists estimate the annual value of these services to be around $179.3 billion, highlighting the hidden economic value of Antarctica's environment.

The value of scientific research conducted in the region, which helps protect global infrastructure by monitoring ice melt and other environmental changes, remains unquantified.

Antarctica faces the immense threat of climate change, losing 150 billion tonnes of glacier ice annually at an accelerating rate. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to safeguarding this irreplaceable resource.

The World Economic Forum's white paper, "The State of Climate Action," provides insights into the current state of climate action and the steps needed to achieve global warming limitation goals.