The melting of Antarctic ice sheets could provide vital information, on the future of sea level rise

Climate scientists from Wellington's Victoria University are drilling into ice sheets on the frozen continent.

They're hoping to unlock information dating back potentially millions of years, including from when the Earth was as warm as it is now.

GNS scientist Richard Levy says climate change is the biggest existential threat to humanity right now.

He says increases in temperature will see ice shelves collapse, meaning we will no longer be able to stop metres of sea level rise.