Swiss glaciers lose over 5% of ice volume in 2026
Summary
Swiss glaciers lost 5.5% of their ice volume this year, the second-biggest percentage drop on record, after repeated heat waves and low winter snowfall. Experts warn that alpine glaciers face long-term survival threats as Europe continues to warm rapidly.
Key Points
- Swiss glaciers lost 5.5% of their ice volume this year, marking the second-largest percentage decline on record.
- Experts say heat waves, low winter snowfall and anthropogenic climate change are driving the accelerated melt.
- Over the past five years, Switzerland’s glacier ice volume has fallen by nearly a fifth, with major implications for water supplies and hydropower.
- The melt has also reduced river-fed water resources across Europe, including the Danube, Rhine, Po and Rhone basins.
