This lecture delves into the accelerated warming in polar regions, emphasizing the drivers of Arctic warming, the impact of cloud cover, and the uncertainties in simulation skills. It discusses the vulnerability of Arctic permafrost, the increase in forest fires in the boreal belt, and the Antarctic sea ice evolution. The lecture also covers the Thwaites Glacier, Antarctic ice melt, and the implications of sea level rise. Mitigation measures, COP 28 outcomes, and the potential of climate engineering are explored, along with the global emission trends and the state of climate action.