The world’s glaciers are losing ice faster than ever before.

New figures from the UN Environment Programme, based on about 30 ‘reference glaciers’, show the average rate of melting and thinning more than doubled between 04/05 and 05/06 (data set). Those who rely on meltwater from glaciers, such as the half a billion residents in the Himalaya-Hindu-Kush region and the other quarter billion downstream could be in serious trouble a few years from now.

“The latest figures are part of what appears to be an accelerating trend with no apparent end in sight,” says Wilfried Haeberli, director of the World Glacier Monitoring Service (press release).

Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director, is making even louder ‘warrrrrgh!” noises. He says: “There are many canaries emerging in the climate change coal mine. The glaciers are perhaps among those making the most noise and it is absolutely essential that everyone sits up and takes notice.”

The UN wants action now to halt the melting (AFP). Ian Willis, of the Scott Polar Research Institute, told the BBC: “It is not too late to stop the shrinkage of these ice sheets but we need to take action immediately.”

Unfortunately this message doesn’t seem to be getting through to the politicians meeting in Japan, where the pace of progress is, well, glacial. Here are a couple of headlines stemming from that meeting:

Rich and poor nations clash at climate talks – AFP

Britain dismisses Japan climate change plan – Reuters

Image: Sawyer Glacier / NOAA