Fusion of glaciers: “We have already lost 31 years of drinking water”, the OMM alarm

At the National Acqua Congress 2025, concluded on 8 August at Mar del Plata (Argentina), the general secretary of the world meteorological organization, Celeste Saulo, launched a warning that weighs like a boulder: the planet has already lost 9,000 ice gigatonnellate, who ended up in the sea. Translated in concrete terms, it means 31 years of drinking water for the entire world population. A heritage that will not return to the form of ice: the glaciers, globally, have not showed signs of recovery for 40 years.

“For some countries, the raising of sea level represents the difference between existence and non -existence,” Saul said in his intervention.
The expert, the first woman and the first South American at the helm of the OMM, spoke of a “polychrisi”: climate, energy, nutrition, society and geopolitics intertwine in a network of global emergencies that amplify inequalities. “We are the most vulnerable to climate change and we have less resources to adapt,” he underlined, referring to developing countries.

Water alert and climate change

The link between climatic crisis and water is direct and devastating. According to OMM data, from 1970 to today 91% of natural disasters are linked to water: drought, storms, floods and landslides. Early alert systems have already reduced the loss of human lives of up to 80%, but remain inaccessible to many vulnerable communities. “Ensuring access to these systems is fundamental,” Saul reiterated.

In Argentina, the preventing project integrates radar and artificial intelligence to improve forecasts, but the scientist denounces that the exchange of hydrological data between countries is still scarce, hindering prevention.

Data that save lives, but not the glaciers

Fresh water loss is not a reversible phenomenon in the short term. The water from the glaciers pours into the oceans, raising the sea level and modifying coastal balances. The “digital twins”, simulations that anticipate the effects of water works or extreme events, could help plan more effective interventions, but require accurate models and shared data.

The theme of water is also linked to the energy transition. “In 2010, non -renewable sources were growing; in 2024, renewables also grow up. It is good news, but not at the necessary speed. How can we finance a right transition?” Saul asked.

China, the United States and the European Union guide green investments, while Latin America, Africa and South-East Asia remain behind, with consequences that risk expanding the economic and technological gap.

The role of communities

For Saul, science alone is not enough: “To transform, you have to participate; to participate, you have to commit ourselves”. In Argentina, virtuous examples come from the National Meteorological Service app and from the Community Pluviometers installed along the river Matanza.

Daily choices also count: reduce waste, correctly manage waste, limit superfluous consumption. “Building the public sphere means defending the community,” recalled the scientist, inviting international cooperation and multilateralism.

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