21 Mar, 10:01

UN reports record high glaciers retreat

According to the UN World Meteorological Organization, depletion of glaciers threatens supplies to hundreds of millions of people who live downstream and depend on the release of water stored over past winters

GENEVA, March 21. /TASS/. The total mass of glaciers declined by record high value4s in 2022 - 2024, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said.

"Five of the past six years have witnessed the most rapid glacier retreat on record. 2022-2024 witnessed the largest three-year loss of glacier mass on record. In many regions, what used to be called glaciers’ 'eternal ice' will not survive the 21st century," the organization said.

"More than 275,000 glaciers worldwide cover approximately 700,000 km," the WMO noted. "Depletion of glaciers threatens supplies to hundreds of millions of people who live downstream and depend on the release of water stored over past winters," it added.

The record high loss of mass was registered for glaciers of Scandinavia, Svarbald and North Asia.

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