New Zealand may face catastrophic glacier melt
A government report shows that the country's temperature has risen by 1.36°C since 1909, and glacier volume has decreased from 56 to 30 cubic kilometers over 26 years, writes The Guardian.
The Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (Mcert) and Stats NZ published the report 'Our Atmosphere and Climate 2026.' It states that greenhouse gas levels in New Zealand have reached record highs, and seven of the ten warmest years on record have occurred in the past decade.
From 1997 to 2023, the country's glacier volume shrank from 56 to 30 cubic kilometers. Projections indicate that by 2100, they could lose between 14% and 86% of their volume under low emissions scenarios and up to 100% under high emissions scenarios. In 2025, oceans off New Zealand's coasts warmed 34% faster than the global average.
The report states that by 2050, heatwaves in the country will become more frequent: the number of days with temperatures above 25°C will increase, raising risks to public health and the economy.
