Melting ice could put 2 billion people at risk

Melting ice is threatening the food and water supplies of 2 billion people around the world, with the current "unprecedented" rate of melting set to have dire consequences, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has warned.

The Guardian newspaper on March 20 quoted a new report by UNESCO saying that two-thirds of the world's total irrigated agricultural land is likely to be affected in some way by melting glaciers and reduced snowfall in mountainous areas.

Melting ice from the Gangotri glacier in India on October 19, 2022

More than 1 billion people live in mountain regions, and up to 50% of those in developing countries already experience food insecurity. This situation is likely to get worse because food production in such regions depends on mountain water, snowmelt and glaciers, according to the UNESCO report.

"No matter where we live, we all depend on mountains and glaciers in some way. But these natural water towers are in danger. The new report shows the urgent need for action," UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay stressed.

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According to a separate study by the World Meteorological Organization, the past three years have seen record-breaking glacier mass loss, with Norway, Sweden and the Andes among the worst affected regions. In addition, a recent study published in the journal Nature predicts that 50% of the world's glaciers will be lost by the end of the century if global warming is not curbed.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bang-tan-co-the-gay-nguy-co-cho-2-ti-nguoi-185250321225946846.htm