In the last 60 years, Peru has witnessed a concerning decline in its tropical glaciers, with a staggering 56% loss attributed to the effects of climate change, as revealed in a recent government report.
Home to 68% of the world’s tropical glaciers, Peru grapples with the consequences of rising temperatures, resulting in the melting of glaciers and the emergence of new mountain lagoons.
The National Institute of Research of Mountain Glaciers and Ecosystems warns of potential overflow and flooding risks associated with these changes.
Using satellite imagery up to 2020, the report underscores the significant reduction in glacier coverage.
In 1962, ice and snow spanned 2,399 square kilometers, whereas, in 2020, only 1,050 square kilometers remained, marking a notable 6% decrease from 2016 to 2020 alone.
Beatriz Fuentealba, director of the institute, conveyed this alarming trend from the Ancash region, where numerous glaciers have already vanished.
The report discloses the formation of 164 lagoons in the past four years, contributing to a total of 8,466 glacial lagoons covering around 1,081 square kilometers.
While these lagoons could potentially serve as future water reserves, their high-altitude locations pose the risk of overflow and flooding, warns Jesus Gomez, director of research on glaciers at the Ministry of the Environment.
With Peru’s tropical glaciers predominantly situated above 6,000 meters, the new lagoons emerge at altitudes between 4,000 and 5,000 meters.
The implications of this environmental shift are far-reaching, as nearly 20 million Peruvians directly or indirectly depend on water sourced from these glaciers.
Environment Minister Albina Ruiz emphasizes the gravity of the situation, stating that Peru has lost more than half of its water reserves, affecting the natural mountain ecosystem.
Ruiz advocates for concerted efforts to mitigate the accelerated loss of glaciers.
While acknowledging the inevitability of their disappearance over time, she calls for urgent action to reduce the speed of this process.
This involves addressing pollution, promoting green spaces, and recognizing the vital role mountains play in sustaining life.
The report serves as a poignant call to action, urging a collective commitment to environmental preservation in the face of Peru’s water crisis.
