Swiss glaciers have melted as much in the last two years as between 1960 and 1990

Swiss glaciers have melted as much in the last two years as between 1960 and 1990, under the effect of extreme weather conditions exacerbated by climate change caused by human activities, reveals a study published Thursday September 28 by the group of experts responsible for to study the cryosphere at the Swiss Academy of Natural Sciences. Their conclusion is clear: “Swiss glaciers are melting faster and faster.”

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The extreme years follow one another and are similar: after losing 6% of volume in 2022, a record year, Swiss glaciers have melted by another 4% this year. This is the second largest decline since measurements began.

A Switzerland without glaciers, a “possible” scenario

“It’s a combination of the very bad succession of weather extremes and climate change” which makes these extremes more likely, explains Matthias Huss, who heads the Swiss glaciological survey network. “If we continue at the pace we have experienced in recent years – everything goes even faster –, every year will be a bad year”he warns.

“And we have seen such strong changes in the climate in recent years that it is entirely possible to imagine this country without glaciers.” recognizes the scientist. However, he emphasizes that decisive action by “climate stabilization”, by reducing CO2 emissions to zero as quickly as possible, could help conserve “a third of the ice formed in Switzerland.