A groundbreaking study published in Nature has revealed that glaciers worldwide are melting at an unprecedented rate, losing over 6,500 billion tonnes of ice since 2000—equivalent to about 5% of their total mass. This alarming trend is not only accelerating but also has significant implications for global sea levels and freshwater resources. If all mountain glaciers were to melt, they could raise global sea levels by approximately 32 cm.
The study highlights that the pace of glacier melting has increased substantially over the past decade, with losses exceeding those of the previous decade by more than a third. This acceleration is attributed to rising global temperatures, primarily driven by human activities such as fossil fuel combustion.
Glaciers serve as crucial indicators of climate change and are vital for millions of people worldwide, providing essential freshwater resources. However, their rapid disappearance poses serious threats to water supplies, especially in regions like Central Asia and the Central Andes, where glaciers dominate runoff during dry seasons.
Furthermore, projections suggest that two-thirds of the world’s glaciers could disappear by 2100 under current warming rates, with at least half of this loss occurring in the next three decades. Even if global warming is limited to 1.5°C as per the Paris Agreement, nearly half of the world’s glaciers are still expected to melt completely by the end of the century.
The study underscores the urgent need for climate action to mitigate the impacts of glacier loss, which include increased sea-level rise, heightened risks of natural hazards, and disruptions to regional hydrology. As global temperatures continue to rise, the fate of these frozen rivers of ice hangs in the balance, with profound consequences for ecosystems and human societies worldwide.