Context: In the 'State of the Cryosphere 2024 – Lost Ice, Global Damage' report, over 50 leading cryosphere scientists warn of vastly higher impacts and costs to the global economy given accelerating losses in the world’s snow and ice regions. 

• The report has been coordinated by International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI)

About Cryosphere

• It refers to areas of snow or ice on Earth, subjected to temperatures below 0°C for at least part of the year and includes regions such as continental ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, permafrosts etc. Eg. Greenland, Antarctica, Hindu Kush Himalaya etc.

Key Findings of Report

• Accelerated loss of Ice Sheets: Greenland Ice Sheet is currently losing 30 million tons of ice per hour. Moreover, Ice shelves in northern Greenland have lost 35% of their total volume since 1978.

• Sea Level Rise: Rate of global sea-level rise has doubled in the last 30 years &  and as per current trends it would increase to 6.5 mm/year by 2050.

• Melting Glaciers: Venezuela recently joined & Slovenia(1st) to lose their final glaciers in modern times.

Impact of Cryosphere affect global climate 

• Weakening of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and Slowing of Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) affecting the global ocean circulation

• Increase in Permafrost Thawing may worsen local damage and global feedbacks

• Permafrost thawing  means melting of ice inside permafrost leaving behind water and soil.

• Decreases reflective ability of sea ice leading to greater warming at both poles, greater CO2 emissions and increased depletion of ozone layer

• Risks of catastrophic floods from glacial lake outburst floods.

Initiatives to Protect Cryosphere

• United Nations General Assembly has approved 2025 to 2034 as Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences

• World Meteorological Organisation has adopted four high  High-Level Ambitions for cryosphere. 

• India has launched National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) to assess health of the Himalayan ecosystem including those of glaciers.