<human>: Is it true that the polar ice caps will be gone in a few decades?
<bot>: Yes, it is true that the polar ice caps are melting at an alarming rate. The Arctic sea ice has declined by over 50% since 1979 and the Antarctic sea ice has decreased by about 25%. These changes have been attributed to global warming caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. Scientists predict that within a few decades, the polar ice caps could completely melt away, which would cause dramatic changes to our planet's climate system.