Glaciers are disappearing fast, warn scientists on The First World Day for Glaciers

New Delhi, March 21: Today is the first-ever World Day for Glaciers, along with World Water Day. Events are taking place in major cities like Paris and New York. But while we celebrate, scientists are sounding the alarm: Glaciers in many parts of the world may not survive this century if they keep melting at their current speed.

This puts hundreds of millions of people at risk, especially those who depend on glacier-fed water sources.

Why Are Glaciers Melting?

Glaciers are huge masses of ice that usually remain stable when the climate is balanced. However, due to ongoing global warming, where earth and sea temperatures are rising caused by human activities, they are melting faster than ever.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) explains that the rising global temperatures are causing glaciers to shrink at an alarming rate. Glaciers store about 70% of the world's freshwater and are an important part of the planet’s water system. The consequences are already visible and are serious as glaciers are melting, affecting water supplies, weather patterns, and sea levels.

Livelihoods at Risk

Report in UN news suggests that in 2024, glaciers in Scandinavia, the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, and North Asia recorded their largest loss of ice in history.

Experts from the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) explain that glaciers receive new snow every year, but they are now losing ice faster than they gain it.

Another major concern is the Hindu Kush Mountain range in Western Himalayas, which stretches from Afghanistan to Pakistan. As Ms Mishra explains, over 120 million farmers in the region depend on glacier water to grow their crops. This area is sometimes called the "third pole" because it holds vast amounts of frozen water. But with glaciers disappearing, farmers and communities face a serious water crisis.

Is Glacier Loss Irreversible?

Unfortunately, it may already be too late to save many glaciers. The past six years have seen the fastest glacier retreat ever recorded. The years 2022-2024 had the highest loss of glacier mass in history, according to WMO experts.

Since 1975, the world’s glaciers (excluding those in Greenland and Antarctica) have lost more than 9,000 billion tonnes of ice. That’s equal to an ice block the size of Germany, 25 meters thick! Reports suggest that every year, the planet is losing 273 billion tonnes of ice, which otherwise is enough to supply the world’s population with water for 30 years.

Rising Sea Levels & Flood Risks

The world is witnessing irregular climate change and its behaviour. Scientists say that glacier melt is responsible for 25-30% of the world’s rising sea levels. Each year, the melting snowcaps add about one millimetre to the sea level. This might seem like a small number, but even this increase can displace hundreds of thousands of people. Several small islands are at the stage of sinking in these rising seawaters.

WMO scientist Sulagna Mishra warns that if we do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions, 80% of the world’s small glaciers (such as those in Europe, East Africa, and Indonesia) could be gone by 2100. This would lead to more extreme weather, water shortages, and climate refugees.

What Can Be Done?

The world is presently quite aware of the manmade disaster we are bringing to our planet. The United Nations and climate scientists repeatedly send warnings and urge governments, communities, and businesses to take action, which first requires awareness.

The Key solutions suggested by various activists and organisations include:
• Cutting fossil fuel use to slow down global warming.
• Developing better water management strategies for affected communities.
• Encouraging international cooperation.