The new model is based on an unprecedented amount of data, more than 215,000, on all of the Earth's glaciers, as well as various forecasts of global temperature increase. Even in the most optimistic scenario, where the temperature rise is limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, half of the glaciers will be lost.
Almost half, or 104 thousand, will vanish completely. Even if we are able to meet the more optimistic international community goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century. When we consider that the average global temperature has already risen by 1.2 degrees Celsius, and that the risk of failing to meet the target is extremely high, it is easy to see how vulnerable the world's glaciers are.
The study, conducted by a group of international researchers, explains that if the worst-case scenario for climate change materializes, which predicts a rise of 4 degrees Celsius by 2100, more than 80 percent of glaciers would vanish.