Glaciers across the world are vanishing at an unprecedented rate, with many unlikely to survive beyond the 21st century, the United Nations has warned. The rapid melting threatens millions of people who rely on glaciers for water. It also drives sea level rise and flooding.
The warning comes on the first World Day for Glaciers, a global initiative to highlight the urgency of glacier loss and its devastating consequences.
GLACIERS: THE WORLD’S FROZEN RESERVOIRS
Glaciers, along with the massive ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica, store nearly 70% of Earth’s freshwater. In a stable climate, their size remains relatively constant. Rising global temperatures are causing glaciers to melt at historic speeds. These temperatures are driven by human-induced climate change, according to Sulagna Mishra, a climate scientist at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
GLACIERS ARE MELTING FASTER THAN EVER
Glaciers in Scandinavia, the Arctic’s Svalbard archipelago, and North Asia suffered their largest-ever annual ice loss last year.
Nicknamed the “third pole”, the region holds vast freshwater reserves, but these are shrinking fast.
In the Hindu Kush mountains, there is a 500-mile range that spans Afghanistan and Pakistan. Glacial loss is threatening the livelihoods of over 120 million people. These people depend on these ice reserves for drinking water, farming, and energy production.
A TIPPING POINT?
According to the WMO, five of the past six years have seen the fastest glacier retreat in recorded history. From 2022 to 2024, glaciers lost more mass than during any previous three-year period.
“We are witnessing an irreversible transformation in our glaciers,” said Ms. Mishra.
GLACIERS ARE DISAPPEARING AT THE SIZE OF COUNTRIES
The World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) estimates that glaciers (excluding Greenland and Antarctica) have lost over 9,000 billion tonnes of ice since 1975.
“That’s equivalent to an ice block the size of Germany, 25 meters thick,” said Michael Zemp, WGMS director.
Since 2000, glaciers have been shrinking by an average of 273 billion tonnes per year. This amount is enough to meet the water needs of the entire global population for 30 years.
In Central Europe, glaciers have lost nearly 40% of their ice mass. If current trends continue, the Alps’ glaciers could vanish completely before the century ends.
RISING SEAS, DEADLY FLOODS, AND CLIMATE REFUGEES
Melting glaciers contribute 25-30% of global sea level rise, with melting snowcaps pushing ocean levels up by about 1mm per year.
While that may seem small, every millimeter of sea level rise forces up to 300,000 people to flee coastal areas annually.
“These numbers sound small, but their impact is massive,” explained Mr. Zemp.
A GLOBAL EMERGENCY REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ACTION
The consequences of glacier loss extend far beyond water shortages. As ice sheets disappear, the risks of flash floods, landslides, and extreme weather events increase.
“When you ask how many people will be impacted, the truth is: everyone,” Ms. Mishra stressed.
She called for urgent policy changes, stronger climate commitments, and increased investment in glacier research.
WORLD DAY FOR GLACIERS: A CALL TO ACTION
March 21 marks the first World Day for Glaciers, aligning with World Water Day. This initiative is part of the 2025 International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, bringing scientists, policymakers, and world leaders together at UN Headquarters in New York to discuss solutions.
GLACIER OF THE YEAR: SOUTH CASCADE GLACIER
The 2025 Glacier of the Yearis South Cascade Glacier in Washington, USA. Studied continuously since 1952, it provides one of the longest records of glacier mass loss in the Western Hemisphere.
“South Cascade Glacier represents both the beauty of glaciers and the dedication of scientists tracking climate changefor over six decades,” said Caitlyn Florentine of the U.S. Geological Survey.
A FUTURE WITHOUT GLACIERS?
For climate scientists like Michael Zemp, the future looks bleak.
“If I think about my children, they may grow up in a world without glaciers,” he said. “That is truly terrifying.”
His advice? Visit a glacier while you still can.
“The changes are happening before our eyes, and we are leaving an enormous burden on future generations.”
