On World Glacier Day, scientists caution that many of Earth's glaciers are unlikely to survive the 21st century due to unprecedented melting rates. The World Meteorological Organization reports that glaciers lost over 9,000 billion tonnes of mass since 1975, with dramatic losses observed in the Alps and Pyrenees. The increasing global temperatures, fueled largely by human-induced climate change, disrupt the natural balance of glaciers, leading to faster summer melt and delayed winter recovery, intensifying the urgency to act on climate change to protect these vital water sources.
Earth's glaciers, which currently store 70% of the world's freshwater, are experiencing unprecedented retreat, with many likely to vanish by the century's end.
In the wake of accelerating ice loss, WMO highlights the potential for glacial floods, placing 10 million people at immediate risk.
Glacier mass loss since 1975 has equated to an ice layer the size of Germany and 15 miles thick, emphasizing the urgency of the crisis.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stresses that preserving glaciers is essential for humanity's survival, intertwining environmental, economic, and societal stability.
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