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UNESCO Glacial Report
Glaciers worldwide are vanishing at an unprecedented rate, with the last three years recording the largest mass loss of glacial ice on record, according to a UNESCO report released on 21 March 2025.
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- Michael Zemp, director of the Switzerland-based World Glacier Monitoring Service, highlighted this dramatic loss during a press conference at the UN headquarters in Geneva.
- The release of the report coincides with a UNESCO summit in Paris, which marked the first-ever World Day for Glaciers, urging nations to take global action to protect these vital ice masses.
Alarming Ice Loss Across the Globe
- The rapid retreat of glaciers—from the Arctic to the Alps, the Andes to the Tibetan Plateau—is accelerating due to climate change driven by the burning of fossil fuels. The consequences could be devastating, including:
- Rising sea levels
- Increased risk of floods
- Dwindling freshwater supplies
- Threats to agriculture and hydroelectric power
The Growing Threat of Glacier Loss
- Stefan Uhlenbrook, director of the World Meteorological Organisation’s water and cryosphere program, added that approximately 275,000 glaciers remain globally, and together with the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, they make up about 70% of the world’s freshwater.
- The loss of these glaciers poses an existential threat to both people and ecosystems that rely on them. Uhlenbrook emphasised the need for scientific advancements:
- Better observation systems
- More accurate forecasts
- Early warning systems for vulnerable communities
Key Facts from the Report
- Record Glacial Mass Loss: Since 1975, glaciers have lost 9,000 gigatonnes of ice, equivalent to an ice block the size of Germany, with a thickness of 25 meters.
- Mass Loss in 2024: In just one year, glaciers lost 450 gigatonnes of ice.
- Vulnerable Mountain Communities: Over 1.1 billion people living in mountain communities are facing the most immediate impacts of glacier loss.
- Sea Level Rise: Between 2000 and 2023, melting mountain glaciers contributed 18 millimetres to global sea level rise.
- Flood Risk: Every millimetre of sea level rise can expose up to 300,000 people to annual flooding.
Urgent Call for Climate Action
- With five of the last six years recording unprecedented glacial loss, the global community must act now to:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Strengthen flood prevention infrastructure
- Ensure sustainable water management for affected regions
The rapid pace of glacier loss is becoming one of the most pressing climate challenges of our time. The global community must act swiftly to mitigate the impacts of these changes and protect both vulnerable populations and ecosystems worldwide.
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