A recent study combining 223 estimates from 450 data contributors has found that glaciers worldwide are melting faster than previously thought, having lost 5% of their ice since 2000. Additionally, according to the United Nations University, we are “projected to lose around 50 percent of glaciers (excluding Greenland and Antarctica) by 2100, even if global warming can be limited to 1.5°C.” The detrimental effects of glacial mass loss, including flooding and increased water scarcity, threaten the safety of millions worldwide.

The study, titled “Community Estimate of Global Glacier Mass Changes from 2000 to 2023” and called by the BBC the “most comprehensive scientific analysis [of glacier melt] to date,” was published by Nature on February 19. The study found that, on average, glaciers lost 273 gigatons in mass annually between 2000 and 2023, with a 36% increase between the first and second decades. According to the article, glacial melting “leads to increased local geohazards, and impacts marine, and terrestrial, ecosystems, regional freshwater resources, and both global water and energy cycles.” Even if drastic climate action is taken, glaciers will continue to lose mass throughout the century due to the carbon emissions humans have already produced.

Sea level rise threatens coastal communities and the environment all over the globe.  

“Every centimeter of sea-level rise exposes another two million people to annual flooding somewhere on our planet,” Michael Zemp, director of the World Glacier Monitoring Service, told the BBC this week. Glacial melt can also cause local flooding, including glacial lake outbursts, which can be catastrophic for local communities.

Glacial melt can also lead to water scarcity, as the United Nations University explained in its 2023 technical report on mountain glacier melt. Rising temperatures cause glaciers to melt faster until they reach a meltwater peak, after which runoff decreases. The technical report highlights how this phenomenon can lead to water and food insecurity, as many local communities rely on glacier runoff for freshwater and irrigation. Flooding and water scarcity can push people from their homes, and force them to migrate to safer areas. Glacial melting is also expected to increase species extinction rates. The isolated nature of glacial habitats makes it essentially impossible for native species to migrate when experiencing habit loss.

Glaciers are an important climate indicator, and the repercussions of glacier melting will be felt on local and global levels. Regardless of whether climate mitigation measures are taken, communities will be forced to adapt to changing environments as a result of glacial melt. Swift holistic action is necessary to reduce the impact of these now inevitable changes on the environment and world communities.