Glacier at Caullaraju in Peru. Credit: Universität Bremen, Ben Marzeion
A Climate Tipping Point Already Crossed
Scientists warn that nearly 40% of glaciers are already on track to melt. This will happen even if we stopped global warming today. If current climate trends continue, up to 75% of glacier ice could vanish. This shift threatens water supplies, landscapes, and entire ecosystems.
The Science Behind Glacier Loss
Glaciers store snow and slowly release it as water. They rely on a delicate balance between snowfall and temperature. But rising global temperatures have disrupted that balance. The Earth has already absorbed enough heat to keep glaciers melting for decades, even with immediate climate action.
Why Stopping Warming Isn’t Enough
Even if we cut emissions today, glaciers would still shrink. This happens because the climate responds slowly to change. The damage from past warming continues to drive the melt, locking in future losses.
Where Glacier Loss Hits Hardest
Regions at Highest Risk
Glaciers won’t vanish equally across the world. In southern Arctic Canada, 80% of glaciers may disappear. The Alps have already lost over 50% of their glacier cover since 1950. In contrast, parts of the Himalayas might only lose 5%. But no region is safe if warming continues unchecked.
Ripple Effects on Water and Wildlife
Glaciers supply freshwater to millions. They support rivers, crops, and even hydropower. When they melt, they disrupt ecosystems. Melting glaciers also contribute to rising sea levels and increase risks of floods and landslides.
Every Degree Makes a Difference
What 1.5°C vs. 2.7°C Warming Means
If we limit warming to 1.5°C, we could save more than half of remaining glaciers. But if we reach 2.7°C—the current path—we could lose three-quarters of them. That future would bring water shortages, rising seas, and massive environmental shifts.
Action Can Still Make a Difference
It’s not too late. Reducing emissions now can protect smaller glaciers and preserve water sources. Shifting to clean energy, rethinking transportation, and restoring natural carbon sinks can slow the loss.
The Big Question: Will We Let It Happen?
The glacier countdown has started. Our choices today will shape the world our children inherit. Will we protect the frozen giants, or watch them vanish from history?
What future do you want to help shape—for our glaciers and our planet?
Reference: “Glacier preservation doubled by limiting warming to 1.5°C versus 2.7°C” by Harry Zekollari, Lilian Schuster, Fabien Maussion, Regine Hock, Ben Marzeion, David R. Rounce, Loris Compagno, Koji Fujita, Matthias Huss, Megan James, Philip D. A. Kraaijenbrink, William H. Lipscomb, Samar Minallah, Moritz Oberrauch, Lander Van Tricht, Nicolas Champollion, Tamsin Edwards, Daniel Farinotti, Walter Immerzeel, Gunter Leguy and Akiko Sakai, 29 May 2025, Science.
DOI: 10.1126/science.adu4675
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