The recent tragedy in Nepal, which occurred on August 26, 2026, was caused by a glacier collapse, not an earthquake as initially assumed. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the event generated a seismic signal equivalent to a magnitude 5.2 earthquake.
This incident highlights the massive global ice loss. Since 1976, glaciers have lost approximately 9176 Gt of water, with significant acceleration in the last decade. This decline is a direct consequence of global warming, which has increased the average air temperature by 1.44ºC since pre-industrial times.
Anthropogenic CO₂ emissions, exceeding 38 Gt in 2025, significantly contribute to this warming. Atmospheric CO₂ concentration is now about 52% above pre-industrial levels. Projections indicate that by the end of the century, between 66% and 79% of glaciers could disappear, depending on the global temperature rise.
