Glaciers worldwide are melting at an unprecedented rate, putting the food and water supply of nearly 2 billion people at serious risk, according to a new report by UNESCO. The findings highlight the escalating threat of climate change to mountain ecosystems, which serve as vital “natural water towers” for communities worldwide.
The World Water Development Report 2025 warns that glacier retreat and declining snowfall could affect two-thirds of all irrigated agriculture globally. These critical changes disrupt water cycles that support crop production, livestock, and the livelihoods of millions, especially in developing nations.
More than 1 billion people live in mountainous regions, and up to half of them in developing countries already face food insecurity. As glacier-fed water sources continue to shrink, their dependence on melting snow and ice for agriculture and drinking water becomes increasingly precarious.
The crisis is not limited to developing nations. In the United States, the Colorado River Basin has suffered chronic drought since 2000, worsened by warming temperatures that have turned snowfall into rainfall. Unlike snow, rain runs off quickly and fails to recharge water reserves, deepening drought conditions across the region.
Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, stressed the universal impact of glacier loss:
“Regardless of where we live, we all depend in some way on mountains and glaciers. But these natural water towers are facing imminent peril. This report demonstrates the urgent need for action.”
With cascading consequences for agriculture, ecosystems, and human survival, the report calls for immediate global action to protect and adapt to the loss of these essential freshwater sources before it’s too late. Read More
News Credit: The Guardian
Picture Credit: Mark Thiessen/AP