# ‘Explosion of melt rates’: Swiss glaciers lose 20% of ice in five years

https://mins.news/en/item/81315

- The Guardian, 2026-10-01 04:00 UTC
- Science
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/oct/01/switzerland-glacier-loss-fossil-fuel-pollution-europe

> Swiss glaciers shrank by 5.5% in the first eight months of 2026, taking total ice loss since 2021 to 19.4%, researchers say. Heatwaves after a low-snow winter and fossil fuel pollution are accelerating their collapse, with internal meltwater streams creating cavities that cause ice roofs to fall in.

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