The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has predicted the complete disappearance of glaciers on Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, by 2040 due to climate change. The WMO termed the 2011-2020 period as the warmest decade on record for both land and ocean. Glacial thinning, unprecedented ice melt, and sea level rise were highlighted as major concerns during this period.
According to the WMO report, glaciers thinned by an unprecedented 1 meter every year, posing long-term water concerns for millions of people. Almost all 19 primary glacier regions experienced rising negative values during 2000-2020. The Antarctic continental ice sheet lost nearly 75% more ice between 2011-2020 compared to 2001-2010, raising concerns about future sea level rise affecting low-lying coastal regions and states.
The report also noted an increase in the atmospheric concentration of major greenhouse gases over the decade. Rates of ocean warming and acidification have risen, threatening marine ecosystems. Greenland and Antarctica lost 38% more ice during 2011-2020 compared to the previous decade, contributing to the global mean sea level rise. While the Arctic sea’s ice extent continued to decline, the report highlighted the success of the Montreal Protocol in reducing the Antarctic ozone hole.
WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas emphasized the continuation of the warming trend, with each decade since the 1990s being warmer than the previous one. The report warns of the urgent need to address climate change, stating that “we are losing the race to save our melting glaciers and ice sheets.
