Swiss glaciers lost a record 5% of their ice in 2026—like the biggest melt‑out in decades.
Those glaciers do more than just look cool; they feed our farms, power plants, and even help ships glide on rivers. But the heatwaves this summer melted the snow that protects the ice, turning the glaciers into a ticking time‑bomb for floods.
Scientists say that in the last 12 months the whole country’s glaciers released 2.2 trillion litres of meltwater. First the water helps during a dry spell, but it also means the ice stockpile shrinks fast and won’t be there for the next heatwave.
Even glaciers that sit 3,500 metres above sea level lost all their winter snow—meaning the glaciers can’t “re‑grow” the next year. If the Alps keep warming, the glaciers could vanish, with sweeping effects on water supply, the economy, and sea‑level rise worldwide.
"The bad news is the urgent need to slash fossil‑fuel emissions," warned Glacial Monitoring Swiss director Dr Matthias Huss. "Saving ice we can cap the rise in sea levels and protect millions living by coasts."
Keep up on the biggest climate news by signing up for the Future Earth newsletter.
