23 million Olympic-size swimming pools of iconic glaciers disappear every year because of climate change
My interview with TRT World on the climate crisis and COP27
I saw the sun slowly burning away the thick fog on this misty morning. Every few minutes, the light changed, the colors of nature reappeared, and so did the shapes of the trees. The morning was still chilly, but it will be a warm day in the afternoon.
I like warm weather days but am deeply worried about the warming climate. I expressed that yesterday when I was interviewed by TRT World News about the latest UNESCO report on the rapid melting of glaciers in World Heritage sites; it concludes that a third of these glaciers are expected to vanish by 2050. The report also states that the remaining two-thirds of these 18,600 glaciers could still be saved “if” global temperatures rise by no more than 1.5°C beyond pre-industrial levels.
But that is a very big “if” since curbing global warming to 1.5°C will be a tremendous challenge. According to a report released Wednesday by the environmental think tank World Resources Institute (WRI), countries' current emission reduction policies will result in a 7% decrease in emissions from 2019 levels by 2030. To achieve the Paris 1.5°C objective, WRI said that emissions would need to decrease by 43% over that time.
The glaciers in the 50 UNESCO World Heritage sites cover roughly 66,000 km2, or almost 10% of the Earth's total glacierized area. They include the longest (in Alaska), the highest (next to Mt. Everest), and the last-standing glaciers in Africa. Since 2000, the glaciers have been retreating more quickly as a result of CO2 emissions, which are rising temperatures.
The melting of these glaciers is responsible for about 5% of the observed global sea-level rise. They are losing 58 billion tons of ice annually, equal to the capacity of 23 million Olympic-size swimming pools.
This is the video of the interview:
The Director General of IUCN, Dr. Bruno Oberle, commented on the report:
"When glaciers melt rapidly, millions of people face water scarcity and the increased risk of natural disasters such as flooding, and millions more may be displaced by the resulting rise in sea levels. This study highlights the urgent need to cut greenhouse gas emissions and invest in Nature-based Solutions, which can help mitigate climate change and allow people to better adapt to its impacts.”
Examples of endangered glaciers by region
Africa:
According to available data, glaciers in all World Heritage sites in Africa will very likely be gone by 2050, incl. Kilimanjaro National Park and Mount Kenya.
Europe:
Glaciers in Pyrenees Mont Perdu (France, Spain) – very likely to disappear by 2050
Glaciers in The Dolomites (Italy) – very likely to disappear by 2050
North America:
Glaciers in Yellowstone National Park (United States of America) – very likely to disappear by 2050
Glaciers in Yosemite National Park (United States of America) – very likely to disappear by 2050
Glaciers in Waterton Glacier International Peace Park (Canada, United States of America) have lost 26.5% of their volume in 20 years.
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Notes:
Full text of UNESCO report: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000383551
Way to go Alex! Great interview. Living in the Sonoran Desert I seldom think of glaciers. Thanks for raising awareness of their loss in terms I can understand. 23 million Olympic size swimming pools of ice is mind boggling. Climate change is a world wide problem affecting all of us.
I remember reading about a funeral being held for a glacier in Iceland (it was in The Great Melt). Such a sad thing. Living in Switzerland, I have witnessed the decline of our glaciers first hand, but those numbers are just staggering - 23 million pools?! That's insane.
And like you said it's not just the countries who are responsible for it who suffer. I remember our discussion on your podcast on the question "how do we get people in Switzerland to care about sea level rise?". As you said, melting glaciers are having a much larger effect.
Thanks for continuing to raise awareness.