From our collaborating partner Living on Earth, public radio’s environmental news magazine, an interview by Paloma Beltran with Miriam Jackson, the Eurasia and Nordic director of the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative.
At the 30th United Nations climate conference in Brazil, the critical condition of the cryosphere—Earth’s frozen zones—is under scrutiny by scientists. A new report by the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative has alarmingly indicated that significant ice loss is imminent in regions such as the European Alps, the Rockies, Iceland, and Scandinavia if global temperatures rise by 2 degrees Celsius.
Miriam Jackson, a prominent glaciologist and climate scientist, emphasized the rapid transformation of tropical glaciers during her presentation at COP30. These glaciers, located at high altitudes in places like Peru, Bolivia, and Africa, are melting more quickly than their global counterparts due to their unique climate conditions.
Jackson noted that glaciers worldwide are experiencing accelerated changes, particularly in areas like the European Alps and northern Norway. “What we’re seeing now is something very similar over the whole world,” she stated, pointing out that diverse glaciers from the North Pole to the equator are undergoing significant change.
Since the year 2000, many glaciers have lost over 20% of their mass, a trend that poses a dire threat to their sustainability. Some nations, such as Venezuela and Slovenia, have already seen their last glaciers vanish.
The impact of melting glaciers extends beyond the immediate environment, affecting water supplies, agriculture, and even spiritual practices in high mountain communities. Jackson highlighted the dependence of many in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region on glacier meltwater for essential resources.
Moreover, the retreat of these ice bodies contributes to sea level rise, posing a risk to coastal and island communities worldwide. Even small mountain glaciers are playing a role in this global change, underscoring the widespread implications of cryosphere transformations.
At COP30, glaciologists like Jackson are advocating for greater awareness and action. They aim to ensure that climate negotiators are well-informed about the scientific realities and the urgent need to address these changes.
Jackson expressed the diverse sentiments at the conference, noting the heightened concerns of countries such as Tajikistan, Nepal, and Bhutan, which have already experienced severe consequences from glacial changes. “There’s no point in continuing to make money if the whole world is struggling so much with climate change that nobody’s interested in buying oil anymore, they’re just interested in survival,” she remarked.
While some countries, particularly those dependent on oil exports, show reluctance to embrace the urgency of the situation, the global consensus is clear: the effects of climate change, driven by changes in the cryosphere, will ultimately impact everyone.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org