Some of the world’s most iconic glaciers are set to disappear by 2050, according to a new study by UNESCO, which highlights the accelerated melting of glaciers in World Heritage sites.
Key points
- Fifty UNESCO World Heritage sites are home to glaciers, representing almost 10% of the Earth’s total glacierized area.
- They include the highest (next to Mt. Everest), the longest (in Alaska), and the last remaining glaciers in Africa.
- The UNESCO study, in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), shows that these glaciers have been retreating at an accelerated rate since 2000 due to CO2 emissions, which are warming temperatures.
- They are currently losing 58 billion tons of ice every year – equivalent to the combined annual water use of France and Spain – and are responsible for nearly five per cent of observed global sea-level rise.
- The glaciers under threat are in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and Oceania.
- According to available data, glaciers in all World Heritage sites in Africa will very likely be gone by 2050, incl. Kilimanjaro National Park and Mount Kenya.
- Glaciers in Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas (China) – #1 highest mass loss relative to 2000 (57.2%) and also the fastest melting glacier on the List
- Glaciers in Western Tien-Shan (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan) have shrunk by 27% since 2000.
- Europe: Glaciers in Pyrenees Mont Perdu (France, Spain) – very likely to disappear by 2050, Glaciers in The Dolomites (Italy) – very likely to disappear by 2050.
- Latin America: Glaciers in Los Alerces National Park (Argentina) – #2 highest mass loss relative to 2000 (45.6%), Glaciers in Huascaran National Park (Peru) have shrunk by 15% since 2000.
- North America: Glaciers in Yellowstone National Park (United States of America) – very likely to disappear by 2050, Glaciers in Yosemite National Park (United States of America) – very likely to disappear by 2050, Glaciers in Waterton Glacier International Peace Park (Canada, United States of America) have lost 26.5% of their volume in 20 years. Oceania: Glaciers in Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand (New Zealand) have lost almost 20% of their volume since 2000.
