Melting glaciers have already caused nearly 2cm of sea level rise this century, with the world’s glaciers collectively losing a staggering 6.5 trillion tonnes of ice between 2000 and 2023, according to a new study by the University of Edinburgh and the University of Zurich. This mass loss resulted in an 18mm (0.7 inch) rise in global sea levels, with glaciers shedding an average of 273 billion tonnes of ice annually—equivalent to 30 years of global water consumption.
The study found that glaciers have lost approximately 5% of their total volume since 2000, with regional variations painting an alarming picture. While Antarctic and subantarctic islands lost 2% of their glacier volume, Central Europe’s glaciers have shrunk by 39%.
Prof. Noel Gourmelen, co-lead author from the University of Edinburgh, called the findings “staggering,” noting that 36% more ice melted between 2012 and 2023 compared to the previous decade. This acceleration is particularly concerning, as it contributes directly to increased coastal flooding. Prof. Andrew Shepherd of Northumbria University highlighted that “every centimetre of sea level rise exposes another 2 million people to annual flooding.”
Beyond rising seas, glacier loss threatens freshwater supplies for remote and water-scarce communities. “Around 2 billion people rely on glacier melt for daily water needs,” Shepherd added. In regions like the Andes, the Himalayas, and Switzerland, glaciers are essential for drinking water and hydropower generation—powering 70% of Iceland’s electricity and supporting energy grids worldwide.
The study underscores an urgent reality: glacier melt is reshaping landscapes and impacting lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure globally. Read More
News Credit: The Guardian
Picture Credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images