Experts warn of growing glacier-related risks from climate change

Euronews

4 days ago

Glacier-related risks are becoming a global concern, according to Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
Speaking at the Glacier Preservation Conference in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Saulo emphasised that all countries, regardless of development level, face threats linked to glacial change.
A recent disaster in the Swiss village of Blatten illustrated the dangers. A glacier-triggered mudslide devastated the area, destroying nearly all livelihoods.
One person remains missing, but early warning systems were credited with reducing the overall impact.
In response to accelerating climate change, the WMO is urging increased investment in glacier monitoring and forecasting.
Saulo highlighted the need for greater awareness and support for hydrometeorological centres worldwide.
'With better monitoring, we can expect to have better forecasts, with those we can expect to have better early warning systems in the end to protect societies, protect people and to protect livelihoods,' she said.
Just last week, Blatten was buried under a massive avalanche of rock and ice from the Birch Glacier and the nearby Lonza River bed.
Experts had issued warnings about the potential collapse of the glacier, which contained 1.5 million cubic metres of ice.
Local authorities acted quickly, evacuating around 300 people and livestock. A few days after the event, the Lonza River resumed its flow through the debris.
The Blatten collapse is not an isolated event.
In 2022, a chunk of the Marmolada glacier in Italy's Dolomite Mountains - roughly the size of an apartment building - broke off during a summer heat wave. The resulting avalanche swept through a popular hiking area, killing 11 people.
In 2016, a glacier in Tibet's Aru mountain range suddenly collapsed, killing nine people and their livestock. A few months later, another glacier in the region gave way.
Glacier collapses have also occurred in Peru. In 2006, one triggered a mini tsunami, and in April of this year, an overflowing glacial lagoon caused a landslide that killed two people.
'It's amazing sometimes how rapidly they can collapse,' Lonnie Thompson, a glacier expert at the Ohio State University, told the AP.
'The instability of these glaciers is a real and growing problem, and there are thousands and thousands of people that are at risk.'
While melting glaciers are expected to contribute to sea level rise for decades, scientists warn that the loss of inland glaciers poses immediate risks to nearby communities that depend on them for drinking water and agriculture.
As floods, fires and heatwaves grow more frequent and destructive, new research shows that climate adaptation isn't just urgent. It's also one of the smartest investments governments can make.
According to a new report from the World Resources Institute (WRI), every €1 spent on climate adaptation will yield roughly €10 in benefits over a decade.
That figure comes from analysing 320 projects across 12 countries, including infrastructure upgrades, health system improvements and disaster risk management schemes. All told, they amounted to more than €1 trillion in projected returns.
'This research has pried open the lid on what resilience is truly worth – and even that first glimpse is staggering," said Sam Mugume Koojo, co-chair of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action from Uganda.
Glaciers are disappearing from the Alps, and record heatwaves and flash floods are costing lives and destroying livelihoods. Scientists warn that even if warming reverses, much of the damage, such as Arctic melting, won't be undone in our lifetimes.
As climate change intensifies, the need to protect lives, economies and ecosystems is no longer a distant concern. But this research suggests that adaptation is not only a necessity – it pays off.
The WRI defines adaptation investments as those aimed at reducing or managing physical climate risks, such as climate-smart agriculture, expanded health services and urban flood protection.
The research found that some sectors generate bigger gains than others.
While the WRI projects 27 per cent returns on average, health-focused initiatives, such as expanding services to cope with rising malaria and heat stress, could deliver average returns of 78 per cent. Investments in risk management projects, from early warning systems to flood defences, also stand out for their high impact and cost-efficiency.
And they didn't just pay off in times of crisis.
The WRI report found that over half of the benefits from adaptation projects occur even if climate shocks don't happen. For example, irrigation systems can support crop diversity, and evacuation shelters can double as community centres.
'One of our most striking findings is that adaptation projects aren't just paying off when disasters happen – they generate value every day through more jobs, better health and stronger local economies,' said Carter Brandon, senior fellow at WRI.
'That's a major mind shift: policymakers don't need a disaster to justify resilience – it's simply smart development.'
Europe has made progress.
Breda in the Netherlands recently became the EU's first National Park City in recognition of its work to restore wetlands, green its streets and adopt a whole-of-society approach to embracing eco-minded urban development.
Twenty-two cities in Europe, including Copenhagen, Milan and Stockholm, earned an A grade from the non-profit CDP in 2023 for their climate leadership.
Experts still say that Europe lacks a clear, unified green development strategy. Some warn that investment is not keeping pace with growing risks. In 2023 alone, disasters cost the continent more than €77 billion, according to the World Bank. Without action, the economic toll of climate change could reach seven per cent of EU GDP.
But countries around the world are exploring unconventional methods to prepare for the future and improve life in the present.
The Pacific island nation of Nauru has proposed a 'golden passport' scheme, offering citizenship to climate investors to help fund critical infrastructure – a controversial idea that underscores the urgency many nations face in bridging adaptation finance gaps.
As global leaders prepare for COP30, the WRI and others argue that climate adaptation should no longer be treated as a side project but rather as a central part of policy.
'This evidence gives leaders and non-state actors exactly what they need heading into COP30: a clear economic case for scaling adaptation,' said Dan Ioschpe, a high-level champion for COP30, the global climate conference taking place in Belém, Portugal, in November.
'Belém must become a turning point [in] mainstreaming resilience into national and local priorities and unlocking the full potential of non-state actors' leadership.'