A UNESCO report released on March 21, 2025, reveals that glaciers worldwide are disappearing faster than ever, with the past three years marking the largest glacial mass loss on record. The report, unveiled at UN headquarters in Geneva, estimates that 9,000 gigatons of ice—equivalent to a Germany-sized block 25 meters thick—have melted since 1975. Michael Zemp, director of the World Glacier Monitoring Service, highlighted the alarming trend, noting that 2024 alone saw a staggering 450 gigatons vanish.

From the Arctic to the Tibetan Plateau, climate change, driven by fossil fuel emissions, is accelerating this meltdown. The past six years include five of the worst on record, with mountain glaciers now a leading cause of sea level rise—18 millimeters between 2000 and 2023. Each millimeter risks flooding for up to 300,000 people annually, while shrinking glaciers threaten water supplies for billions reliant on them for agriculture and hydropower.

The report, coinciding with UNESCO’s first World Day for Glaciers summit in Paris, underscores dire consequences. About 275,000 glaciers remain, holding 70% of Earth’s freshwater alongside ice sheets. Yet, 1.1 billion mountain residents face immediate peril—droughts, avalanches, and glacial lake outburst floods are intensifying as ice retreats. Stefan Uhlenbrook of the World Meteorological Organization warns that rising temperatures will amplify these hazards.

As sea levels climb and freshwater dwindles, the economic, environmental, and social fallout looms large. UNESCO’s call to action is clear: global efforts to curb emissions and protect glaciers are urgent—or the losses will only deepen.