Glaciers in a third of World Heritage sites is set to disappear by 2050, says a new UNESCO data. The report highlighted the accelerated melting of glaciers regardless of efforts to limit temperature increases. However, it also said that it is still possible to save the other two thirds, if the rise in global temperatures does not exceed 1.5°C compared to the pre-industrial period.
Some of these endangered glaciers include the glaciers in Kilimanjaro National Park and Mount Kenya (Africa); glaciers in Western Tien-Shan (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan) that have shrunk by 27% since 2000; The Dolomites (Italy) (Europe), Yellowstone National Park (North America) among others.
From the Report
There are 18,600 glaciers in 50 UNESCO World Heritage sites that cover around 66,000 km2, representing almost 10% of the Earth’s total glacierized area. The study conducted by UNESCO, in partnership with IUCN, shows these glaciers have been retreating at an accelerated rate since 2000 due to CO2 emissions, which are warming temperatures.
Every year, the glaciers are currently losing 58 billion tons of ice. This is equivalent to the combined annual water use of France and Spain and are responsible for nearly 5% of observed global sea-level rise.
Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emission
The study has suggested that the only effective solution to this environmental threat is quickly reducing carbon dioxide emission. The report calls to action rapid reduction in CO2 emissions levels to save glaciers and the biodiversity it supports. It emphasized that the upcoming COP27 will be significant in this regard.
International Fund for Glacier
In addition to reducing carbon emission, UNESCO also advocated for creating an international fund for glacier monitoring and preservation. The fund would support comprehensive research, promote exchange networks between all stakeholders and implement early warning and disaster risk reduction measures.
Why are glaciers important?
Glaciers are vital for survival. Half of humanity is directly or indirectly dependent on glaciers as their water source – domestic use, agriculture, and power. These are also supporters of biodiversity, feeding many ecosystems.
With the melting of glaciers, people would begin to face water scarcity, increased number of disasters, loss of biodiversity among other challenges. Furthermore, glaciers are the blanket that help maintain Earth’s temperature and acts like a thick insulating blanket on the Earth’s surface.
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