China’s Glacier Area Shrinks by 26% Due to Global Warming

In March 2025, an official data revealed that China’s glaciers have shrunk by 26% since 1960, with 7,000 small glaciers disappearing completely. The retreat has accelerated in recent years, raising concerns over freshwater availability and disaster risks.

Key Points:

Rapid Glacier Loss: China’s total glacier area declined from 59,000 sq. km in 1960–1980 to 46,000 sq. km in 2020, with the number of glaciers increasing due to fragmentation.
Global Ice Loss Trends: A UNESCO report highlights record glacial mass loss in the last three years, with glaciers worldwide losing 9 trillion tonnes of ice since 1975.
Impact on Freshwater Supply: Shrinking glaciers threaten water availability, leading to increased competition for water resources and environmental instability.
Disaster Risks and Rising Sea Levels: The retreat of glaciers raises disaster risks, contributes to sea level rise, and exacerbates economic and social challenges globally.
China’s Mitigation Efforts: China is employing snow blankets and artificial snow systems to slow glacial melt, particularly in the Tibetan Plateau, known as the ‘Third Pole’.