In Jammu and Kashmir, glaciers are vanishing at a disturbing rate. What once appeared to be enduring ice formations in the Himalayas are now visibly retreating, year after year. Scientists estimate that nearly 30 percent of the glaciers in the region have disappeared over the past 60 years. If warming continues at the current pace, up to 70 percent of these glaciers could be lost by the end of this century. This is not an isolated concern for the region alone but part of a much larger global crisis tied to rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and the increasing pressure of human activity on fragile environments. Glaciers in J&K are essential to the region’s natural and human systems. They supply fresh water to rivers, support farming, fuel hydropower stations, and sustain biodiversity in the mountains and valleys. Across Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, there are around 18,000 glaciers, all of which are now showing signs of shrinkage. Researchers report that the region is losing between 18 to 20 meters of glacier ice each year. The melt is speeding up, particularly in late winter and early spring, as average temperatures in February and March now remain consistently higher than they did in past decades. This warming has disrupted the natural timing of snowfall and snowmelt, reducing the snow cover that once replenished the glaciers each year. The impact on water availability is already evident. Streams and rivers fed by glaciers are showing reduced flow, especially during summer months when they are needed most. These changes in Jammu and Kashmir reflect a global pattern. The World Meteorological Organization recently published data showing that glaciers worldwide have thinned by an average of 32.5 meters water equivalent over the past 74 years. In 1950, the average glacier value stood at +5.392 MWE (Meters Water Equivalent). By 2024, this figure had dropped to -27.123 MWE. The period from 2022 to 2024 marks the most severe three-year loss of glacier mass ever recorded. The causes are clear: warming temperatures, declining snowfall, and human-induced emissions that continue to trap heat in the atmosphere. The global consequences are vast. Glaciers store vast amounts of freshwater. As they melt, sea levels rise and local water systems are destabilized. Countries that rely on glacial melt for rivers—such as those in South Asia, the Andes, and the Alps—are already facing seasonal water shortages. These changes can lead to failed crops, reduced energy output, and even cross-border tensions where water sharing becomes a source of conflict. Experts say that the only way to prevent further damage is to reduce carbon emissions drastically. Despite growing awareness, global carbon output remains high, with projections indicating further increases. In J&K, researchers have emphasized that local efforts to protect glaciers will fall short if global temperatures continue to rise. Becoming carbon neutral, they argue, is not optional—it is the only available path to slow down the retreat of glaciers. But this will require cooperation across countries, industries, and communities, with action rooted in science and urgency rather than promises and delays.
Global Melt
