What’s 6.5 trillion tones of ice worth?
Apparently, about 2cm of sea level rise since 2000.
That’s right—glaciers around the world are disappearing fast, and the consequences are stacking up.
A new study by the University of Edinburgh and Zurich reveals that Earth’s glaciers have lost 5% of their total volume this century.
The melting is speeding up—36% more ice has vanished in the last decade than it did in the previous decade.
40% Glaciers Disappeared in Europe
Some places, like central Europe, have seen nearly 40% of their glaciers disappear.
Others, like Antarctica, have been slightly more reserved (only a 2% loss—no big deal, right?).
“This isn’t just about losing pretty landscapes,” warns Prof. Andrew Shepherd. Rising seas mean more coastal flooding.
Every centimeter of sea level rise exposes 2 million more people to floods.
And it’s not just coastlines at risk—about 2 billion people depend on glacial meltwater for drinking, farming, and even electricity.
So, if ice is Earth’s climate report card, we’re failing. The question is—what are we going to do about it?
