The Alps and Pyrenees Glaciers in Danger: An Alarming Meltdown

A recent study, published in the prestigious journal Nature, highlights the extent of glacier disappearance on a global scale. Since the year 2000, the glaciers of the Alps and Pyrenees have lost nearly 40% of their mass, a worrying finding that will be included in the next IPCC report scheduled for 2029.

An Unprecedented Meltdown

Swiss glaciers alone lost 2.4% of their volume in 2024, an acceleration partly due to Sahara winds carrying sand that amplifies summer melting. “Glaciers are extremely sensitive to climate change,” explains Fanny Brun, a glaciologist at the Institute of Research for Development. She notes that in 25 years, only the year 2001 had a positive glacial mass balance in the Alps. “Every other year has only seen losses.”

The most striking example is the Sarenne Glacier in Isère, where scientists were forced to dismantle their measurement instruments due to the lack of remaining ice. “This glacier simply no longer exists,” observes Fanny Brun with regret.

A Global Threat

This phenomenon is not limited to Europe: globally, the 270,000 recorded glaciers, excluding the polar ice caps in Antarctica and Greenland, have already lost 5% of their volume since 2000. Every year, 273 billion tons of ice disappear, the equivalent of three Olympic-sized swimming pools per second. This estimate comes from the international scientific consortium GlaMBIE (Glacier Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise), which brings together 35 research teams from CNRS, CNES, INRAE, and IRD.

A Call to Action

“We are not on the right trajectory,” warns Fanny Brun. “Reducing these glacial mass losses requires a drastic decrease in CO2 emissions to mitigate warming and meet the commitments of the Paris Agreement.”

The years 2022 and 2023 were among the hottest on record, breaking records for glacial melt. Without immediate action, these majestic landscapes could become mere memories, with dire consequences for ecosystems and water resources.