The United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned of rapid glacier loss worldwide, citing record-breaking retreat across all 19 monitored glacier regions for a third consecutive year.
According to the WMO, five of the past six years have seen the fastest glacier retreat on record, driven by climate change.
“Although this glacier has been in equilibrium for a hundred years, in the past decade, it has shown a significant rate of retreat,” said Victoria Pacheco, a tour guide at Argentina’s Perito Moreno Glacier. “It is melting faster than ever.”
UNESCO calls glaciers “fragile mirrors” of climate change, reflecting rising global temperatures. The agency warns that if greenhouse gas emissions remain unchecked, half of the world’s glaciers could disappear by 2100, threatening freshwater supplies and ecosystems.
To raise awareness, the UN has designated March 21 as World Glacier Day, urging global efforts to protect these vital resources.