How a glacier collapse in Switzerland warns of a global freshwater crisis

On 28 May, the Swiss village of Blatten was buried under a massive avalanche of ice, mud, and rock. The cause: a partial collapse of a glacier high above the village. Fortunately, the area had been evacuated days earlier.

Climate change is accelerating glacier melt and weakening permafrost, raising the risk of sudden collapses and rockfalls. Switzerland has already lost more than half of its glacier volume over the past century, and nearly half of all Alpine glaciers could disappear by 2050.

Glaciers are more than local landmarks—they act as ‘water towers’ for nearly 2 billion people globally, releasing freshwater during dry seasons. Their disappearance threatens drinking water, irrigation, and ecosystems worldwide.

Beyond water scarcity, glacier melt can cause floods, alter ocean salinity, and disrupt global currents and weather systems. Some temporary fixes, like glacier blankets in Switzerland, exist—but they’re not sustainable long-term solutions.

To keep global warming below 1.5°C, emissions must fall by 7% per year until 2030. Yet they continue to rise. A joint report by the World Economic Forum and BCG stresses the critical need for coordinated action by governments and businesses alike.