World Meteorological Organization reports record global water and glacier loss in 2025

A report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) indicates that 2025 was one of the driest years on record, with terrestrial water storage falling 42% below the global norm. This decline affects freshwater stored in soils, lakes, groundwater, snow, ice, and plants, reducing the natural buffers that protect against droughts and support agriculture, drinking water, and hydropower.

Across the globe, 36% of river basins recorded below-normal flows, while only about one-third of the world's rivers maintained normal levels. This trend marks the fewest number of rivers with normal flows since 1991.

Glacial retreat has also accelerated, marking the fourth consecutive year in which all 19 major glacial regions recorded a net loss in ice mass. In 2025, glaciers lost approximately 400 to 441 billion U.S. tons of ice, contributing to a sea-level rise of roughly 1.1 millimeters. Significant mass losses were noted in regions including Central Asia, South Asia, the Russian Arctic, Iceland, and Western Canada and the USA.