Glacier Melt Accelerating at Record Pace Due to Climate Change

Glacier melt is occurring faster than ever before, with new data showing record levels of ice loss over the past three years. According to a UNESCO report released today, the dramatic acceleration of glacier retreat poses a serious threat to coastal populations, water security, and global ecosystems.

Scientists warn that rising global temperatures, driven by fossil fuel emissions, are pushing glaciers worldwide past a critical tipping point. “The preservation of glaciers is a matter of survival,” said Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), marking the first-ever World Glacier Day.

Glacier Melt Reaches Unprecedented Levels

Since 1975, the world has lost approximately 9,000 gigatons of glacial ice—equivalent to a block the size of Germany, 25 meters thick, according to Michael Zemp, Director of the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS).

The melting of glaciers—from the Arctic to the Alps, and Tibet to Latin America—is expected to accelerate further, contributing to rising sea levels and threatening critical freshwater reserves.

Zemp noted that five of the last six years recorded the highest glacier melt ever, with 2024 alone seeing a loss of 450 gigatons of ice mass.

Rising Sea Levels and Global Risk

Glacier melt is one of the main drivers of sea level rise, exposing millions to the risk of coastal flooding, while simultaneously shrinking water supplies for agriculture and hydropower. The WMO warns that many glaciers in Western Canada, the U.S., Scandinavia, Central Europe, and other regions may vanish entirely by the end of this century.

Today, around 1.1 billion people live in mountainous regions most vulnerable to glacier-related hazards such as avalanches, landslides, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). “We can negotiate many things at the UN, but we cannot negotiate the laws of physics,” said Stefan Uhlenbrook, WMO Director of Water and Cryosphere.

Glaciers Store 70% of Earth’s Freshwater

There are approximately 275,000 glaciers remaining globally, containing 70% of the Earth’s freshwater supply. Their rapid disappearance could drastically impact drinking water, irrigation, and energy production, especially in developing regions.

The UNESCO report notes that glacier melt in East Africa is already sparking conflicts over water access, while between 2000 and 2023, melting glaciers caused a global sea level rise of 18 mm—nearly 1 mm per year. Each additional millimeter exposes 30,000 more people to the risk of flooding.

Climate Action the Only Solution

UNESCO and the WMO emphasize that the only effective response is to cut greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming. “Glacier melt cannot be reversed on human timescales,” the report concludes. “Without bold climate action now, we face catastrophic consequences.”