Global glaciers have suffered unprecedented loss, with UNESCO reporting record levels of ice melt. Since 1975, glaciers lost 9,000 gigatons of ice, significantly impacting freshwater reserves and increasing flood risks. Key findings were made public ahead of a UNESCO summit advocating for action to protect these vital resources.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reported that global glacier melt reached unprecedented levels, with the last three years recording the highest ice mass loss in history. Michael Zemp, head of the World Glacier Monitoring Service, indicated that since 1975, glaciers have lost 9,000 gigatons of ice, which is equivalent to a massive ice block the size of Germany and 25 meters thick.
In fact, five of the past six years had record ice losses, including 450 gigatons lost in 2024 alone. As global temperatures continue to rise due to climate change, melting is anticipated to escalate especially in the Arctic, the Alps, South America, and the Tibetan Plateau.
This glacier retreat is causing rising sea levels, which increases the risk of flooding for millions of people and threatens freshwater systems crucial for agriculture and hydropower. Glaciers, together with ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica, make up about 70% of the world’s freshwater reserves.
These findings were disclosed ahead of a UNESCO summit in Paris commemorating the first International Day of Glaciers. Officials plan to promote coordinated international efforts to protect the remaining glacier systems, acknowledging their vital role in Earth’s future.
Join us for the first-ever WorldGlaciersDay on March 21, 2025, at 10 am EDT, aimed at raising awareness about the protection of glaciers, often regarded as guardians of the Earth’s future.
The UN has raised alarms about the accelerated and unprecedented loss of glaciers due to climate change, with significant implications for global freshwater resources and sea levels. With record losses documented in recent years and projections of continued melting, urgent international action is necessary to preserve these critical ice systems. The upcoming International Day of Glaciers underscores the importance of coordinated efforts for their conservation.
Original Source: shafaq.com
