Mount Everest climbers' waste accelerates Khumbu Glacier melting

A new study published in the journal Regional Environmental Change reveals that human activity at Mount Everest Base Camp is significantly accelerating the melting of the Khumbu Glacier.

Researchers found that during the 50-day spring climbing season in 2023, the combination of heat from fuels used for cooking and heating, along with human urine, released approximately 849,174 megajoules of energy. This thermal impact is estimated to melt roughly 2,500 tons of ice and snow annually.

Specifically, the study highlights that thousands of climbers, guides, and support staff produce approximately 6,000 liters of urine per day. Unlike solid waste, which is often collected and transported down the mountain, much of this urine is discharged directly onto the glacier. Because the urine is released at body temperature (around 37°C) onto ice that remains below 0°C, it contributes to localized melting. Estimates suggest that urine alone could account for the melting of over 150 tons of ice.