Earth Day photos: The world's beauty is at risk

And as always, the possibility of hurricanes looms, with climate change increasing the destructive potential of these tropical storms. Just last year, in a cruel twist of irony, the city's Veneto regional council was flooded just minutes after they voted to reject measures to combat climate change. The warmest temperature ever measured in Antarctica was recorded this year, an iceberg the size of Atlanta broke off from a glacier, and the beloved penguins that call the continent home are declining. Antarctica's ice sheets contain enough water to raise global sea levels by nearly 200 feet, according to the World Meteorological Organization.Alessandro Dahan/Getty Images Maldives This exotic getaway is one of the lowest-lying countries in the world, with an average elevation of around 1 meter (3.3 feet) above sea level. As sea levels continue to rise, islands like these and are at risk of sinking beneath the waves in the coming decades. But as ocean temperatures warm because of the climate crisis, the reef is bleaching -- and scientists worry it may never recover. Melting due to warmer temperatures has led to increased vegetation across all elevations, scientists have found.Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images A recent study found that the rainforest could begin contributing more planet-warming gases to the air than it absorbs by 2050 -- or sooner. This rapid warming is melting glaciers, intensifying algae blooms, killing salmon and fueling wildfires.