The inaugural World Day for Glaciers serves more as a somber reflection rather than a festive occasion, given the alarming rate at which glaciers have been retreating over recent years. This phenomenon indicates that numerous glaciers may not endure through this century.
In five out of the last six years, we've seen the fastest growth. glacier retreat According to recent findings from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS), this has been documented.
Extensive glaciers formed during the Ice Age across mountains in regions such as the United States, Canada, Scandinavia, central Europe, New Zealand, and elsewhere may not survive until the end of this century, according to scientists warning about far-reaching “domino effects” impacting economies, natural habitats, and people living downstream.
Since data collection started in 1975, glaciers have shrunk by over 9,000 billion tons, says Michael Zemp, who leads the WGMS.
He stated that the amount lost during that period is comparable to a massive ice cube as big as Germany with a thickness of 25 meters.
To address this concerning decline, the United Nations General Assembly designated 2025 as the International Year for Glacier Conservation. They also instituted the inaugural World Glacial Day on March 21st with the aim of raising awareness about the critical function that glaciers, snow, and ice serve within climatic and hydrological systems.
The subsequent effects of glacier melting
The Earth hosts around 275,000 large mountain glaciers. which together with continental ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica, keep roughly 70% of the world's freshwater resources .
This water flows to rural areas, towns and cities where h igh glacier lakes that freeze during winter begin to thaw In spring and summer, when these "water reservoirs" diminish gradually, a crucial supply of freshwater for countless individuals starts to vanish as well.
The shrinkage of glaciers is exacerbating natural dangers such as floods, making them more severe. As glacial lakes warm up, they become prone to breaching their barriers, resulting in devastating flash floods. In 2023, a glacier burst occurred in the Himalayan region of the said state, illustrating this perilous situation. Sikkim In northeastern India, the disaster resulted in at least 55 fatalities and led to the destruction of a significant hydroelectric power facility.
A glacier-fed lake in the Peruvian Andes has been gradually increasing in size, with studies showing that its water volume surged 34 times greater from 1990 to 2010. Local farmer Saul Luciano Lliuyais taking notice of this alarming rise. notoriously taking legal action against a German energy firm , RWE, for being responsible for the climate changes that might lead to flooding in his home and village.
The effects of glacial melting on sea levels
The meltwater from glaciers is making its way into the planet’s seas, becoming the second largest source of additional volume. sea level rise Following the increase in sea temperature, causing the water to expand.
Researchers from WMO observe that the pace of global sea-level rise has increased more than twofold since satellite measurements started in 1993. Although this resulted in just an 18-millimeter uptick worldwide, such a change can have significant cumulative effects—particularly when impacting coastal areas. low-lying island communities .
According to Zemp, every millimeter of sea-level increase puts an extra 200,000 to 300,000 individuals at risk for yearly inundation.
The announcement stated that the document reads: “This situation triggers a series of detrimental effects on coastal ecosystems and infrastructures, exacerbated by flooding and the salinization of underground water sources.” This statement accompanied the release of the WMO’s most recent State of the Global Climate report, released earlier this week.
Climate change causing glaciers to melt
The report similarly indicated that 2024 was probably the initial calendar year to experience temperatures exceeding 1.5°C (2.7°F) above the levels seen before the industrial period—when large-scale combustion of coal and oil commenced due to human activities.
Since average temperatures are calculated over multiple decades instead of individual years, this does not suggests that the objectives of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming below the 1.5°C target have not been met. However, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo characterized these findings as "a warning for us to realize that we are escalating the dangers faced by our lives, economies, and the Earth itself."
Rising temperatures linked to climate change are primarily due to exhaust from fossil fuels.
The unprecedented temperature rise In 2024, for the third consecutive year, every one of the 19 glaciated regions covered in the report saw a reduction in overall ice mass. The glaciers in Scandinavia, Svalbard within the Arctic region, and North Asia recorded their most significant yearly decline in ice mass ever documented in 2024.
The WMO report recommends enhancing early warning systems to cope with effects such as severe flash floods. Additionally, the objective includes curbing glacier melting by maintaining alignment with the Paris climate goals.
"Saulo emphasized that safeguarding glaciers is essential for environmental, economic, and social reasons; it is crucial for our very survival," he stated. Edited by: Tamsin Walker
Author: Stuart Braun
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