Southeast Asian tropical glaciers could disappear within two years

The last remaining tropical glaciers in Southeast Asia are projected to disappear within the next two years due to decades of warming. These ice masses are located on the Sudirman Range in the Papua region of Indonesia.

Specifically, the Carstensz Glacier, situated on a branch of Puncak Jaya, is among the final remnants. While ice once covered all four peaks of the mountain range approximately 100 years ago, only two ice patches remain. Since the 19th century, the ice area on Puncak Jaya has shrunk from roughly 1,900 hectares to just 16 hectares, with an estimated 95% loss occurring since 2002.

Explorer Klaus Thymann noted that the disappearance of this ‘perpetual snow,’ which holds deep spiritual significance for local communities, demonstrates how human activity can rapidly alter landscapes that were once thought to be permanent.