Glaciers worldwide are vanishing at an alarming rate, marking the largest glacial mass loss in recent years, as per a UNESCO report released by Alexander Villegas (Reuters). The report, presented at the UN headquarters in Geneva, highlighted that over 9,000 gigatons of ice have melted since 1975, equivalent to an ice block the size of Germany with a 25-meter thickness.
This drastic ice loss, spanning from the Arctic to the Alps and from South America to the Tibetan Plateau, is predicted to accelerate due to climate change fueled by fossil fuel consumption, intensifying global temperatures. The repercussions are expected to exacerbate economic, environmental, and social challenges worldwide as sea levels rise and crucial water sources diminish.
The report coincides with a UNESCO summit in Paris commemorating the first World Day for Glaciers, emphasizing the urgency for global efforts to safeguard glaciers globally. Recent data revealed that five of the last six years observed the most significant ice losses, with 450 gigatons lost in 2024 alone.
Mountain glaciers have emerged as key contributors to rising sea levels, posing risks of severe floods and jeopardizing water resources essential for hydroelectricity and agriculture, impacting millions globally. Stefan Uhlenbrook, director of water and cryosphere at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), stressed the necessity for enhanced scientific understanding, improved observation systems, and early warning mechanisms to protect the planet and its inhabitants.
With about 275,000 glaciers worldwide, along with the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets representing 70% of the Earth’s freshwater, the implications of glacier loss are profound. The rapid decline in glaciers threatens approximately 1.1 billion individuals residing in mountainous areas, increasing the vulnerability to natural disasters and water scarcity.
Moreover, climate change is anticipated to exacerbate droughts, avalanches, landslides, and glacial lake outburst floods. In response to glacier retreat, a Peruvian farmer has sued a German energy corporation for a share of the liability in safeguarding flood defenses attributed to historical global emissions.
Glaciologist Heidi Sevestre, associated with the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program, emphasized the accelerated melting in regions like the Rwenzori Mountains in East Africa, where glaciers are projected to vanish by 2030. Sevestre highlighted the profound spiritual bond indigenous communities share with glaciers, citing the imminent loss of their sacred sites like the deity Kitasamba residing in the ice.
The escalating glacial melt in East Africa has led to increased challenges in the region, underscoring the pressing need for immediate action to address the impacts of climate change on glaciers and their dependent communities.
According to the latest report from UNESCO, tensions over local water resources have been alleviated. Although the global impact is relatively minor, the continuous melting of glaciers worldwide is gradually compounding. From 2000 to 2023, the melting of mountain glaciers has contributed to an 18-millimeter rise in global sea levels, averaging about 1 millimeter annually. The World Glacier Monitoring Service estimates that each millimeter increase could put up to 300,000 individuals at risk of yearly flooding. “Whether people realize it or not, billions are reliant on glaciers, necessitating a collective effort to safeguard them,” remarked Sevestre.
