Antarctica is rising because of a geological phenomenon called post-glacial uplift. A huge volume of ice has melted from the continent's glaciers. This has made it lighter. This consequently means it is slowly rising. The melting glaciers are causing sea levels around the globe to rise. Geologist Terry Wilson wrote: "Our measurements show that the solid earth that forms the base of the Antarctic ice sheet is changing shape surprisingly quickly. The land uplift from reduced ice on the surface is happening in decades, rather than over thousands of years."

Researchers used 3D modelling to ascertain how rising sea levels could affect Earth. Levels could rise between 1.7 meters to 19.5 meters by 2500. Glaciologist Natalya Gomez wrote: "With nearly 700 million people living in coastal areas, and the potential cost of sea-level rise reaching trillions of dollars,…understanding the domino effect of Antarctic ice melt is crucial." She added: "This finding highlights the climate injustice toward nations whose emissions are low, while their exposure and vulnerability to sea-level rise is high."