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 dramatic loss of ice volume in 2026, with experts reporting a 5.5% decrease in ice mass compared to previous years. This decline, the second-largest on record, has been attributed to unprecedented heat waves in Europe. Over the past five years, Swiss glaciers have lost nearly 20% of their ice, raising concerns about the future of water supplies in the region.
GLAMOS chief Matthias Huss warned that alpine glaciers may not survive in the long term under these conditions, calling 2026 a "catastrophic year" due to little winter snowfall and record summer temperatures. 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 at the moment.
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