Global freshwater and glacier depletion

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has reported significant declines in global freshwater reserves and hydrological stability. Reports indicate that 2025 was one of the driest years on record, with terrestrial water storage falling 42% below the global norm. This depletion affects groundwater, lakes, soil moisture, snow, and vegetation, effectively exhausting a planetary ‘savings account’ that typically buffers against extreme dry years.

Approximately 36% of the world’s river basins experienced flows below normal, marking the fewest number of rivers with normal levels since 1991. This instability is characterized by rapid shifts between severe droughts and extreme flooding.

Additionally, glacial retreat has accelerated for the fourth consecutive year, with all 19 major glacial regions worldwide recording a net loss in ice mass. In 2025, glaciers lost between 400 and 441 billion U.S. tons of ice, contributing to a sea-level rise of approximately 1.1 millimeters. Significant mass losses were observed in Central Asia, South Asia, the Russian Arctic, Iceland, Western Canada, and the USA.