Why in news?
A report by Swiss glaciologists revealed that the country’s glaciers lost about 3 percent of their ice volume in the past year due to low snowfall and repeated heat waves. About one hundred small glaciers have already vanished.
Reasons for accelerated melt
- Low snowfall: The winter of 2024–25 saw little snow in the Alps, leaving glaciers exposed to warm spring and summer temperatures.
- Heat waves: Multiple hot spells in 2025 caused rapid melting, including at high altitudes where glaciers traditionally remain stable.
- Climate change: Long‑term warming trends are driving the retreat of glaciers worldwide.
Consequences
- Loss of ice destabilises mountain slopes, increasing the risk of landslides and rockfalls.
- Glacier retreat reduces water availability for rivers, hydropower and agriculture during dry months.
- The disappearance of glaciers threatens alpine biodiversity and tourism.
What can be done?
- Global emission reductions are essential to slow warming.
- Local adaptation measures include monitoring unstable slopes and building dams to manage melt‑water flows.
The situation in Switzerland is a stark reminder of the urgency of international climate action.
