Swiss glaciers have experienced a near-record loss of ice in 2026, with over 5% of the country's remaining glacier ice disappearing in the past year, according to new data. Scientists describe this level of ice loss as "extraordinary" and attribute it to the effects of climate change, particularly intense summer heatwaves. They caution that this rapid melting could threaten water supplies for agriculture, hydropower, and transport in the future.
The loss of glacier ice can also destabilize mountain slopes, increasing the risk of landslides and flash flooding, as evidenced by an incident in Nepal in August that involved the collapse of bedrock and glacier ice. Long-term glacier thinning and thawing of frozen ground are believed to have contributed to the heightened risks.
The report highlights that while the shrinking of Swiss glaciers is expected in a warming climate driven by fossil fuel emissions, the pace of melting is alarming. Previously, glaciologists considered a 2% loss of ice in a year to be extreme; this year, an estimated 5.5% has been lost.
Dr. Matthias Huss, director of Glacier Monitoring Switzerland, characterized the situation as "disastrous." Swiss glaciers began the summer with less snow than usual due to a mild winter, and early heatwaves in May and June caused much of the snow to vanish quickly, exposing the darker glacier ice beneath, which absorbs more solar energy and accelerates melting.
Dr. Fabien Maussion, a glaciologist at the University of Bristol, noted that the rapid loss of glaciers is distressing but expected from a climate science perspective. Meltwater from glaciers serves as a crucial water source for irrigation, hydropower, and shipping during dry conditions, with Swiss glaciers releasing an estimated 2.2 trillion liters of meltwater between July and September. However, this has diminished the long-term frozen supply.
Huss warned that smaller glaciers may not be able to replenish water levels adequately in the future. He explained that the meltwater currently available is unsustainable, as it comes from centuries-old glacier ice. The River Rhine experienced record low levels this summer, impacting shipping routes and increasing transport costs.
At high elevations, where temperatures are typically lower, researchers found no remaining snow at the end of summer, which is concerning for glacier survival. Huss reported that some glaciers have lost up to four meters of ice at their highest points, where snow should typically remain.
Without snow to replace the lost ice, glaciers will continue to shrink and may eventually disappear. Some glaciers, like Plattalva in eastern Switzerland, have already vanished. However, researchers emphasize that significant reductions in carbon emissions could still preserve much of the world's glacier ice, particularly in the Himalayas and polar regions, which are critical for global sea level stability and could impact billions of coastal residents.