Switzerland Loses Nearly 20% of Glacier Ice in Five Years
Switzerland’s glaciers are undergoing a rapid decline, losing more than 5% of their ice volume in 2026 alone. Over the past five years, nearly 20% of the country’s glacier ice has disappeared.
The losses have affected some of Switzerland’s best-known glaciers, which experienced their worst melting on record, while several smaller glaciers vanished entirely. Researchers attribute the trend to unusually snowless winters and extreme summer heat, conditions that reduce accumulation and accelerate melting.