Swiss glaciers have lost more than 5 percent of their ice volume, posing a threat to the country's alpine economy. According to a report published by the Swiss Glacier Monitoring Network (GLAMOS) and the Swiss Commission for Cryosphere Observation of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) on October 2, 2026, Swiss glaciers lost 5.5 percent of their ice volume over the hydrologic year ending September 30, 2026, and nearly 20 percent since 2021. This loss is attributed to a combination of insufficient snowfall during winter and record-high temperatures experienced in Europe during the summer.
In September, a GLAMOS team visited 23 glaciers in Switzerland to take end-of-summer measurements of ice melt and snow accumulation. Matthias Huss, GLAMOS chief and one of the report's researchers, noted that a measuring pole, originally drilled into the ice at a height of about four meters (13 feet) in July, had receded by three meters (10 feet) by early September. He stated, "This clearly indicates these conditions that we had this summer, they are just inconsistent with the survival of these small glaciers in the Alps."
The report indicates that the mean thickness of individual glaciers in Switzerland has decreased by between 2.5 and four meters in 2026, with some glacier tongues losing as much as 10 meters over the summer. Huss emphasized that the significant ice loss is linked to anthropogenic climate change, noting that the summer of 2026 was the hottest on record in Switzerland, combined with low winter snowfall that left glaciers vulnerable to heat.
The report also highlighted that glaciers lost approximately 2.2 trillion liters of water (581 billion gallons) between July and September 2026, which is more than four times the annual drinking water consumption of all Swiss households. This loss could impact future water supply in the country.
Tourism, particularly winter sports and Alpine tourism, is a significant part of Switzerland's economy, employing about 4 percent of the workforce. Huss remarked that the visual impact of glacier loss alters the perception of the mountains, which are becoming less white and more grey and black.
Harry Zekollari, a glaciologist at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, noted that glaciers serve as essential natural water suppliers, particularly during hot and dry summers. He explained that while glaciers initially provide more water due to rapid melting, as they shrink, the summer water supply will decrease. Zekollari warned that the peak water supply from glaciers in the European Alps has already been surpassed, leading to a decline in future water availability.
He also mentioned that glacier changes can lead to natural hazards and that the loss of ice contributes to rising sea levels, which will have global repercussions. Zekollari emphasized the need for immediate action to stabilize rising temperatures to preserve glacier ice. He stated that if emissions are rapidly curtailed, it may be possible to save about one-third of the ice mass in Swiss glaciers. However, without significant reductions in warming, projections indicate that these glaciers could lose over 90 percent of their volume by 2100.
Globally, the situation varies, with some glaciers in other regions being more resilient. Zekollari concluded that future emissions will significantly influence the extent of glacier loss, with potential losses of 25 to 50 percent of glacier mass by 2100 depending on the level of warming.