UNESCO reports that global glaciers have experienced unprecedented mass loss, totaling 9,000 gigatons since 1975. The melting contributes to rising sea levels and threatens freshwater systems. A summit will emphasize the need for international action to preserve glacier systems.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced that global glacier melt has reached unprecedented levels, with the last three years witnessing the most significant ice mass loss on record. Michael Zemp, the head of the World Glacier Monitoring Service, reported that glaciers have lost an astonishing 9,000 gigatons of ice since 1975, equating to a massive ice block the size of Germany with a thickness of 25 meters.
In recent years, five of the last six have recorded significant ice loss, with 2024 alone seeing a reduction of 450 gigatons, an alarming trend expected to intensify due to rising global temperatures. This retreat is particularly notable in various regions, including the Arctic, the Alps, South America, and the Tibetan Plateau, all susceptible to accelerated melting.
Such glacier loss is contributing to rising sea levels, posing increased flooding risks for millions and threatening freshwater systems critical for agriculture and hydropower that support billions globally. Glaciers and ice sheets from Greenland and Antarctica represent approximately 70% of the planet’s freshwater reserves.
These alarming findings precede the first International Day of Glaciers, set to be commemorated at a UNESCO summit in Paris. Officials are anticipated to urge coordinated global efforts to safeguard the remaining glacier systems, emphasizing their importance to Earth’s ecosystem.
The ongoing glacier melt has reached record levels, with dire implications for sea levels and freshwater availability. Urgency in taking coordinated international action is evident, as glaciers are vital for ecological balance and human sustenance. The upcoming International Day of Glaciers underscores the necessity of preventive measures to protect these crucial environmental assets.
Original Source: shafaq.com
