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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: China’s glacier area has shrunk by 26% since 1960 due to rapid global warming, with around 7,000 small glaciers disappearing entirely
• The Chinese Academy of Sciences released new data showing intensifying glacial retreat, particularly in recent years
• The losses underscore a broader global trend, with glaciers vanishing at record rates
🔭 The context: China’s glaciers are mainly located in the high-altitude regions of Tibet, Xinjiang, and provinces like Sichuan and Qinghai
• Between 1960–1980, China had roughly 59,000 square kilometres of glaciers; by 2020, this had dropped to 46,000 square kilometres
• China has deployed artificial snow systems and snow blankets to slow melting, but experts warn these are stopgap measures
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Glaciers are critical freshwater sources—often called the “water towers” of Asia—and their retreat poses risks for water scarcity, ecosystem collapse, and disaster vulnerability
• The shrinking of China's glaciers mirrors alarming global patterns linked to fossil fuel-driven climate change
• Dwindling glacier mass also contributes to sea level rise and amplifies environmental stress across continents
⏭️ What's next: If warming continues unabated, glacial retreat is expected to accelerate further, intensifying water competition and climate-related disasters
• Countries dependent on glacial runoff must invest in adaptive infrastructure and cross-border water-sharing strategies
• Global cooperation on emissions reductions remains essential to slow these irreversible losses
💬 One quote: "The dramatic ice loss... is expected to accelerate as climate change, caused by the burning of fossil fuels, pushes global temperatures higher." – UNESCO Report
📈 One stat: China’s glacier area fell from around 59,000 km² (1960–1980) to 46,000 km² in 2020—a 26% decrease
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