60% of Global Freshwater at Risk: Glacier Melt Threatens Billions

The 2025 UN world water development report reveals that glacier melt, driven by climate change and human activities, endangers water supplies for over two billion people. Mountains, which supply 55-60% of the world’s annual freshwater, are home to 1.1 billion people and 85% of global bird, amphibian, and mammal species. The report warns of severe consequences, including reduced water availability for drinking and agriculture, ecosystem stress, and increased risks of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). GLOFs have caused over 12,000 deaths in the past 200 years, with their frequency rising significantly since the 1900s. The report highlights that 90% of the water flow in rivers like the Colorado, Nile, and Rio Negro comes from mountains. Additionally, 85% of hydropower in Andean countries and two-thirds of irrigated agriculture globally depend on mountain runoff. The report also notes that the peak water point has been passed in glacier-fed rivers in the tropical Andes, western Canada, and the Swiss Alps, signaling a decline in river flow. In Colombia, 90% of glacial area has been lost since the mid-19th century. Projections suggest that a 1.5-4°C warming could lead to a 26-41% loss of glacier mass by 2100. The report emphasizes the need for adaptation measures and international collaboration to address these challenges.

Source: www.carbonbrief.org