Swiss glaciers lose of more than 5% in ice volume in 2026
Over the last five years, Swiss glaciers have lost nearly 20% of their mass, and 2026 saw the second-biggest loss of glacier volume on record. Experts warn there could be no ice left in the next 10-15 years.
Swiss glaciers have experienced a significant loss in ice volume over the past five years, with a recent study revealing that they lost 5.5% in 2026. This loss represents a 20% reduction in ice mass over the past five years, according to the Glacier Monitoring in Switzerland (GLAMOS) network. The rapid melting of glaciers is attributed to unprecedented heat waves across Europe, resulting in unprecedented ice loss.
Matthias Huss, the chief of GLAMOS, stated that the glaciers this year have lost enormous quantities of ice and called 2026 a catastrophic year. The report raises concerns about the long-term survival of Europe's ice fields, with Huss predicting that there may be no ice left in 10 or 15 years. The GLAMOS report emphasizes the impact of global warming, particularly in Europe, which is the world's fastest-warming continent.
Huss attributed the current warming entirely to anthropogenic climate change, stating that without human emissions or fossil fuels, there would be no warming.
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