Overview

• All 19 glacial regions recorded a net mass loss in 2024, marking the third consecutive year of global glacier decline.
• Since 1975, glaciers have lost over 9,000 billion tonnes of ice, equivalent to a block the size of Germany with a thickness of 25 meters.
• The melting glaciers are a major contributor to rising sea levels, which have increased by 10 cm in the past three decades and are projected to become the primary driver in the future.
• Over two billion people rely on glacier-fed water supplies, which are at risk as glaciers continue to recede, particularly in regions like Central Asia and the Andes.
• The first World Glacier Day in 2025 highlights the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.