Swiss glaciers shed 5.5% ice in 2026
In 2026, Switzerland's glaciers experienced a loss of nearly 5.5% of their ice volume, marking the second-largest annual decline since measurements began. The main cause of this decline was the heatwaves recorded from May to September, combined with a lack of snowfall during the winter, which increased melting rates. Some glaciers, such as Aletsch, Rhône, and Clariden, lost up to 10 meters of ice, with the highest melting rates observed since monitoring started. It is estimated that the ice loss in 2026 led to the displacement of approximately 2.2 trillion liters of water, equivalent to four times Switzerland's annual water consumption. This has raised concerns among experts about the shrinking water resources due to the ongoing retreat of glaciers.
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