glacier loss
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Asia’s Glaciers Have Become a Diplomatic Talking Point
As glaciers continue to shrink, important questions around glacier diplomacy and water supply played out among Central Asian nations during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan.
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Climate Change Stopped the Next Ice Age
New research shows that 2,000 years ago, remnants of an Arctic ice sheet began growing again, marking the start of a new glacial period—what we commonly call an ice age. But by the 1960s, global warming had raised summer temperatures enough to reverse that growth.
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Europe’s Earliest Glacier Loss Day in Years Signals a Reckoning for the Alps
Back-to-back European heatwaves pushed this year’s Glacier Loss Day to its second earliest date on record, indicating accelerating glacial melt across Switzerland, France and Italy.
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The Irreversible Global Impacts From the Loss of Earth’s Frozen Regions
In June, climate negotiators from around the world met in Bonn, Germany for the annual Subsidiary Body meetings in preparation for the Conference of the Parties.
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New U.N. Resolution Urges Member States to Act for Glacier Preservation
The resolution, spearheaded by Tajikistan (along with Peru and Bhutan), marks a historic first for Central Asia. It emphasizes the importance of Indigenous populations affected by glacier loss.
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These Glacier Guardians Are Women
From a photography exhibit of a high-mountain community in the Peruvian Andes to leading research by Columbia scientists, a recent panel celebrated the knowledge and work of women in and around glaciers.
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Antarctica Undergoes ‘Greenlandification’ As Ice Melt Accelerates
Scientists have found that Antarctica’s ice loss is increasing rapidly, mirroring the melting of its northern counterpart, Greenland.
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New Climate Finance Initiative Supports Climate Adaptation Efforts in Glacier-Dependent Regions
A newly approved $250 million from the Green Climate Fund will target glacier melt in Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Pakistan, offering an example of large-scale climate finance for adaptation.
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Will Glacier Melt Lead to Increased Seismic Activity in Mountain Regions?
In a recent study, scientists determined that climate change-induced glacial melt may cause more earthquakes.
COP31, the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference, aims to advance dialogue, strengthen consensus, and accelerate climate action on a global scale. From November 9–20, 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye, heads of state, ministers, scientists, business leaders, and civil society will gather to advance efforts in emission targets, climate finance, and adaptation and resilience. Once again, our experts, students, and global thought leaders from Columbia Climate School and across Columbia University are contributing to key events, sharing insights, and helping shape the dialogue toward ambitious, science-based solutions. Learn More
