The vanishing glaciers and a funeral for Ice offer humanity so much to think about. What is the future of our planet, environment, or the world? Do you know? Imagining a work colleague requesting permission to attend an Ice Funeral? Absurd? Or important? This is yet another future of work sustainability issue affecting our planet. Let’s discuss the melting point of the glaciers and their signal to humanity’s future.
The truth of the matter is that glaciers are vanishing, but our response can shape the future. Will we mourn their loss, or will we fight to save them if we can? Glaciers are massive, slow-moving rivers of ice and snow formed over thousands of years through snow accumulation and compaction. They play a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate, providing freshwater, and supporting ecosystems.
Glaciers, the majestic rivers of ice that have shaped landscapes for millennia, are disappearing at an alarming rate. These frozen giants, which store vast amounts of freshwater and regulate global temperatures, are succumbing to the relentless march of climate change.
In recent years, communities have begun holding funeral services for glaciers, mourning their loss as one would a loved one. Yes, you heard right, many are morning for ice literally. But why the funeral service? Why are glaciers melting so rapidly? What does this mean for humanity? And what can we do to halt this crisis? There are just too many questions to ask.
Humans are holding symbolic funeral services for glaciers to raise awareness about the rapid loss of glacier ice due to what many conclude to be as a result of climate change. This loss contributes to sea-level rise, alters ecosystems, and affects water supplies. Ghana is experiencing its fair share of this crisis.
On significance, glaciers are more than just frozen water; they are critical components of Earth’s climate system. They reflect sunlight, regulate temperatures, and provide freshwater to billions of people. Many of the world’s major rivers, including the Ganges, Yangtze, and Colorado, originate from glacial melt. Their disappearance threatens water security, agriculture, and biodiversity.
In Nepal, a solemn ceremony was held for the Yala Glacier, one of the most studied glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayas. Climate scientists, other stakeholders and local communities gathered to honor what remains of the glacier, which has shrunk by 66% and receded nearly 800 meters since the 1970s. This funeral was not just a symbolic gesture—it was a warning to the world that our climate is changing and erasing ancient ice at an unprecedented rate.
Come to think of this, if climate action is the challenge and humanity has all the answers, political will, and the resources to manage the identified challenge, why then are we not able to manage this crisis up until date?
On why Glaciers are melting, a major research point: The primary culprit behind glacier melt is global warming, rising temperatures, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, which accelerate ice loss. Other contributing factors include: Black Carbon Deposits – which are soots from industrial pollution that settle on glaciers, reducing their ability to reflect sunlight and increasing absorption of heat.
Ocean Warming is another factor, where warmer ocean currents erode glaciers from below, hastening their collapse. Then, Extreme Weather Events like heat waves and shifting precipitation patterns disrupt the natural balance of ice accumulation and melt.
What are the statistics saying? A grim reality as scientific data paints a dire picture: Antarctica is losing ice at a rate of 136 billion tons per year, while Greenland is shedding 267 billion tons annually. Global sea levels have risen by 8–9 inches (21–24 cm) since 1880, with an accelerating rate in recent decades.
2024 saw an unexpectedly fast rise in sea levels, surpassing predictions. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2021), on Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. The National Snow and Ice Data Center. (2022) on Glacier Mass Balance. The World Glacier Monitoring Service. (2022) on Glacier Mass Changes offers very useful information for our perusal.
According to IPCC (20221), since the late 19th century, glaciers worldwide have lost about 14% of their mass. The National Snow and Ice Data Center found that the rate of glacier mass loss has accelerated, with glaciers losing about 335 billion tons of ice per year between 2000 and 2019. The global glacier mass loss rate is projected to increase by 50% by 2100 under high-emission scenarios (IPCC, 2021). This should concern you as well.
The global impact of rising sea levels communicates the consequences of glacier melt that extend far beyond the mountains: We read of coastal flooding in the news, which often happens these days.
Cities like New York, Mumbai, and Jakarta face increasing flood risks. Ghana is recording its fair share of the challenge. Displacement is another global impact identified as low-lying nations are losing land to the sea, forcing migration. Economic Disruptions are affecting tourism, agriculture, and fisheries as they suffer ecosystem collapse.
On coastal erosion, half of Ghana’s coastline is vulnerable to erosion and flooding due to rising sea levels, which can lead to massive displacement. Communities in low-lying areas face forced migration as seawater encroaches on land.
The economic disruptions caused to fishing and agriculture due to saltwater intrusion will affect livelihoods. Thinking of infrastructure damage, our roads, homes, and ports will be increasingly at risk from flooding. Also affecting biodiversity loss. Mangroves and coastal ecosystems will be threatened, reducing natural flood defenses.
Coastal protection measures are available where governments construct seawalls, restore mangroves, and implement sustainable land management. How many of these said interventions are working perfectly globally? Miami Beach has struggled with coastal erosion and flooding due to rising sea levels and inadequate coastal protection measures.
Despite efforts to address these issues, the city continues to face significant challenges in protecting its coastline and infrastructure. On the other hand, the Netherlands has a highly effective coastal defense system, which protects the country’s low-lying areas from the sea. The system includes dunes, dikes, and storm surge barriers, which are one of the largest storm surge barriers in the world.
From Climate-Resilient Infrastructure, where we design buildings and roads to withstand flooding to Community Adaptation Programs, where we educate the key population to know what time it is in history, and relocate the vulnerable population, to Strengthening climate policies and enforcing environmental regulations as well as reducing carbon emissions to slow global warming and mitigate sea level rise. There lies a salient secret we ought to unravel together.
The Future of Glaciers and Humanity and a Call to Action
If current trends continue, many glaciers will vanish within decades. The loss of these ice masses will exacerbate climate instability, leading to more extreme weather events, food shortages, and geopolitical conflicts over water resources. However, there is still hope. Yes, there is hope that humanity can slow glacier melt and mitigate its impacts with the available resources, political will, and more. How soon can that be, when climate scientists announce each year suddenly becomes the hottest on record?
In my Biblical research, I found that God made the sand a boundary for the sea and commanded it not to cross until an appointed time. However, he put a caveat to remind humanity, it’s possible the sea can cross its borders. Discover the melting point of the glaciers and their warning sign to humanity’s future. The Climate Change Decoded chapter offers some interesting viewpoints for your perusal in the book – Discover Your Employability Skills.
The funeral for the Glacier is a wake-up call. Can we act now to preserve what remains? Governments, businesses, and individuals all have a role to play, and remember, unless the Lord builds the house, the builder’s labor is in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain – Psalm 127:1. This verse emphasizes the importance of trusting in God’s protection and provision, even in the face of challenges like coastal erosion and flooding. He will cover us with his feathers, and under his wings we will find refuge; His faithfulness will be our shield and fortification. – Psalm 91:4. This verse speaks to God’s protection and care, which can be a source of comfort and strength in the face of adversity.
Understand the issues, ahead of taking a stand. Truly, there is a melting point. Glacier Funerals signal humanity’s future. Discover!
For further reading,
- visit [NASA](https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/ice-sheets/
- [United Nations ] (https://www.un-glaciers.org/en/facts-figures) and climate research organizations
- Read the book [Discover Your Employability, chapter on Climate Change Decoded (Baptista S. Gebu, 2024).
- [Statista](https://www.statista.com/topics/11262/melting-glaciers-and-sea-ice/)
- [World Economic Forum](https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/03/rising-sea-levels-global-threat/).
Baptista is the Executive Director of ProHumane Afrique International, a philanthropic, development & and think tank organization working with communities and individuals to create sustainable solutions to transform communities through diverse pro-poor initiatives. Baptista is a global citizen, inspiring the next generation about sustainable development initiatives. Call or WhatsApp: +233(0)262-213-313.
