Global Glacier Loss Accelerates with 450 Billion Tonnes of Ice Melted in 2024

The UN warns that preserving glaciers is essential for survival, as their melting threatens water supplies, ecosystems, and contributes to rising sea levels.

All 19 glacial regions recorded a net mass loss in 2024, marking the third consecutive year of global glacier decline.
Since 1975, glaciers have lost over 9,000 billion tonnes of ice, equivalent to a block the size of Germany with a thickness of 25 meters.
The melting glaciers are a major contributor to rising sea levels, which have increased by 10 cm in the past three decades and are projected to become the primary driver in the future.
Over two billion people rely on glacier-fed water supplies, which are at risk as glaciers continue to recede, particularly in regions like Central Asia and the Andes.
The first World Glacier Day in 2025 highlights the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.