New Delhi, October 1 (TNA) Switzerland's glaciers lost more than 5% of their ice in 2026, marking another year of rapid decline. According to the latest Glacier Monitoring in Switzerland report, the country’s glaciers have lost nearly 20% of their mass over the past 5 years, with 2026 recording the second-largest annual melt on record.
Matthias Huss, head of the Swiss glacier monitoring programme GLAMOS, described 2026 as 'a catastrophic year', saying glaciers had lost enormous quantities of ice. Scientists estimate that Swiss glaciers lost around 2.2 trillion litres of water between July and September alone, more than 4 times the annual drinking-water consumption of Swiss households.
Glacier melt can temporarily help ease water shortages during dry summer months. However, scientists warn that this benefit is diminishing as glaciers continue to shrink and ice-covered areas become smaller.