UNESCO Report Warns of Accelerating Global Glacier Loss

On 21st March 2025, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) report revealed that glaciers worldwide are melting at an unprecedented rate, with the past three years marking the highest glacial mass loss on record.

Key Points

Record Ice Loss: Since 1975, glaciers have lost 9,000 gigatons of ice—equivalent to an ice block the size of Germany with a thickness of 25 meters. In 2024 alone, glaciers lost 450 gigatons of ice.
Rising Sea Levels & Flood Risks: Melting glaciers have contributed 18 mm to global sea level rise since 2000, increasing annual flood risks for up to 300,000 people per millimeter of rise.
Impact on Water Resources: Glacial retreat threatens freshwater supplies for billions, with severe consequences for agriculture, hydroelectric power, and drinking water.
Climate Change Acceleration: The rapid loss of ice is linked to fossil fuel-driven global warming, with many glaciers, such as those in the Rwenzori Mountains (Uganda & DRC), expected to disappear by 2030.
Indigenous & Cultural Impact: The Bakonzo people in East Africa, who believe glaciers house the deity Kitasamba, face deep spiritual and environmental loss.