RT Report
T1 Global glacier changes: facts and figures
A1 University of Zurich, 
PB United Nations Environment Programme
SN 978-92-807-2898-9
YR 2008
FD 2008
LK https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/7789
UL https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/7789
NO This report provides a high-level overview of global glacier changes, serving as a miniature atlas for a wide-ranging audience. It establishes a context for monitoring glaciers as essential indicators of climate change, which significantly affect environments and human well-being. Using data compiled from international monitoring networks, the document documents the distribution and development of glaciers and ice caps. The findings highlight a general, accelerating global recession since the maximum extents of the Little Ice Age. Although some regions show intermittent re-advances, the report identifies a clear trend of shrinkage that risks the future deglaciation of many mountain ranges. The methodology relies on standardized, long-term observations, satellite imagery, and comprehensive databases to quantify these ongoing environmental shifts.
DS UN Environment Document Repository
RD Sep 20, 2026