Glacier crisis: Urgent global call to address rapid melting

On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, a massive glacier slide in Switzerland, composed of huge masses of ice and gravel, sent giant dust clouds billowing, terrifying not only the residents of the small village of Blatten, which was buried under the debris, but also those in the surrounding areas. This unprecedented natural disaster is being discussed at the international conference on glaciers in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, from May 29 to June 1. Heads of state, government delegations, scientists, UN representatives, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are participating.

Decisive action is necessary. The dramatic glacier slide in Switzerland underscores the dangers of accelerated glacier melting caused by climate change. According to scientists, from 2022 to 2023, Swiss glaciers melted to the same extent as during the entire period from 1960 to 1990 due to climate warming. Worldwide, glaciers —often referred to as the "water towers of the world" — are melting today at twice the rate they were two decades ago. Between 2000 and 2023, they lost ice mass equivalent to the volume of 46,000 Great Pyramids of Giza.

Glaciers and ice sheets store about 70 percent of the world's freshwater supplies. According to scientists, two billion people globally rely on glacier melt to meet their daily water needs. However, as the world's climate continues to warm, the ice remains in a state of constant melt.

This has its consequences. Some regions face water shortages, while others struggle with excess water. For example, the residents of the small town of Huaraz in western Peru meet almost 20 percent of their annual water needs from melting ice. However, glaciers in the Andes are melting even faster than those elsewhere, which creates the risk of flooding.

A resident of Huaraz sued the German energy company RWE, as a rapidly filling mountain lake threatens his home due to melting ice. However, on May 28, the Higher Regional Court in Hamm, North Rhine-Westphalia, dismissed the Peruvian farmer's lawsuit related to climate change.

Not only are huge lakes forming in Peru as glaciers melt, but also if they become too full, deadly floods can wash away buildings, bridges, and destroy fertile land, as seen in Pakistan. In neighboring India, a lake formed from melted ice overflowed, causing the death of 179 people.

Scientists estimate that worldwide, at least 15 million people are at risk of sudden floods caused by melting ice, with the majority residing in India and Pakistan.

In the Swiss Alps, residents of the village of Blatten were evacuated in time before the slide of the melting Birch glacier.

As glaciers shrink, they eventually reach a threshold called "peak water," where water runoff decreases. As a result, less water from their melting flows downriver, which can have far-reaching outcomes.

Reduced water resources in the Andes have compelled local farmers, who traditionally cultivated corn and wheat, to modify their crops and water management practices. Some municipalities have switched to cultivating a drought-resistant variety of potatoes.

An unstable water supply also hampers electricity production. In Chile, 27 percent of electricity comes from hydropower plants, which are heavily reliant on water from melting ice. In 2021, the Alto Maipo power station was shut down due to a decline in water flow.

Not only are glaciers in high mountains melting, but also sea glaciers, like the Thwaites Glacier in western Antarctica. This ice giant is as large as the state of Florida and is considered "very unstable." According to scientists, it is melting from all sides.

The melting of sea ice has a decisive impact on rising sea levels. Over the past 25 years, the melting of glaciers has caused global sea levels to rise by nearly an inch.

This may seem small, but low-lying Pacific islands like Fiji and Vanuatu are at risk of disappearing under the waves. Moreover, over a billion people live in megacities like Jakarta, Mumbai, Lagos, and Manila, all located near the coast. Protective barriers are only a temporary solution as sea levels continue to rise.

Glaciers also hold spiritual and cultural significance for many people. Every year, tens of thousands of pilgrims gather at one of Peru's most sacred glaciers, Colquepunco, to participate in a religious festival. In the past, blocks of ice were cut from glaciers and delivered to local communities, who believed in their healing properties. However, with the disappearance of the glacier, this ancient tradition is at risk.

The Presena Glacier in Italy, a popular skiing destination, has lost one-third of its volume since 1990. It is expected that by the end of the century, natural snow in the European Alps will decrease by 42 percent. Scientists believe that many ski resorts worldwide will become unviable in the future.

Residents, however, can prepare for some of these threats. In the Pakistani village of Hassanabad, an early warning system has been installed to monitor the activity of the nearby Shisper glacier. If necessary, a warning can be communicated through loudspeakers installed in the village.

In the neighboring region of Ladakh, scientists are experimenting with the creation of artificial glaciers to alleviate water shortages during the summer. However, these strategies are only partially effective. Scientists believe that the most effective way to mitigate glacier melting is to slow the rise in Earth's temperature.