Western Siberian permafrost peatlands store vast amounts of carbon and play a crucial role in global climate regulation. Based on the comparison of palaeoecological records from two microhabitats from discontinuous permafrost peatlands, the authors explore environmental shifts during rapidly changing climate conditions during the last two centuries. The study presents data from rapidly disappearing landscapes. The results emphasize the nonlinear and spatially variable nature of permafrost thaw’s impact on peatlands. Permafrost is regarded as one of the climate tipping points, and this study provides insights into potential consequences of permafrost destabilization for northern peatlands ecosystems.