Overview

• 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.