Global Glacier Ice Loss Accelerates by 36% Over Past Decade
A comprehensive study reveals glaciers have lost 5% of their total volume since 2000, contributing significantly to rising sea levels and freshwater depletion.
- Glaciers worldwide have been losing an average of 273 billion tonnes of ice annually since 2000, equivalent to 30 years of global water consumption.
- The rate of ice loss increased by 36% between 2012 and 2023 compared to the 2000–2011 period, with glaciers losing 6,542 billion tonnes of ice in total over 23 years.
- This melting has caused an 18mm rise in global sea levels, making glaciers the second-largest contributor to sea-level rise after ocean warming.
- Regional differences are stark, with glaciers in the Alps and Pyrenees shrinking by 39%, while those in Antarctica and sub-Antarctic islands lost only 2% of their volume.
- The study highlights the critical role of glaciers in freshwater supply, especially for regions like Central Asia and the Andes, and warns of long-term water scarcity as glaciers continue to retreat.
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