Gletscher werden in den Alpen in acht Jahren ihren Höhepunkt beim Aussterben erreichen. Weltweit gibt es noch etwa 200.000 Gletscher, von denen jedes Jahr etwa 750 verschwinden. Untersuchungen deuten jedoch darauf hin, dass sich dieses Tempo rapide beschleunigen wird, da weiterhin Emissionen aus der Verbrennung fossiler Brennstoffe in die Atmosphäre gelangen.

Glaciers in the European Alps are likely to reach their peak rate of extinction in only eight years, according to a study, with more than 100 due to melt away permanently by 2033. Glaciers in the western US and Canada are forecast to reach their peak year of loss less than a decade later, with more than 800 disappearing each year by then.

The melting of glaciers driven by human-caused global heating is one of the clearest signs of the climate crisis. Communities around the world have already held funeral ceremonies for lost glaciers, and a Global Glacier Casualty List records the names and histories of those that have vanished.

About 200,000 glaciers remain worldwide, with about 750 disappearing each year. However, the research indicates this pace will accelerate rapidly as emissions from burning fossil fuels continue to be released into the atmosphere.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-025-02513-9

This highlights how nonlinear glacier loss is. Once critical mass is lost, feedbacks like lower albedo and warmer air accelerate melt far faster than historical rates suggest.

Wow 200,000 is crazy. I never would have guessed so many. Is this because they are considered different if they are not connected or something?

It seems awful optimistic to hope it’s the peak rate and won’t get worse