Global Glacier Melt Accelerates by 36% Over the Last Decade

A new study reveals the alarming loss of 6.5 trillion tons of ice since 2000, contributing to rising sea levels and threatening ecosystems worldwide.

An international study involving 35 research teams found that glaciers have lost 6.5 trillion tons of ice since 2000, raising sea levels by nearly two centimeters.
The annual rate of ice loss increased from 230 billion tons (2000-2011) to 310 billion tons (2012-2023), marking a 36% acceleration in melting.
Regions like the Alps have been particularly affected, with some areas losing up to 40% of their glacier mass since 2000; Swiss glaciers alone lost 10% of their ice in just two years.
The primary driver of this accelerated melting is climate change, which causes higher temperatures and reduced snowfall, further diminishing glacier protection.
The consequences include rising sea levels threatening coastal areas, reduced freshwater supplies for millions, and increased extreme weather events, with scientists urging significant CO2 emission reductions to mitigate further damage.