Alpine glacier retreat is a natural cycle that has occurred throughout history, with the Alps being completely ice-free 6,000 years ago when CO2 levels were pre-industrial. These glaciers only expanded during the Little Ice Age and have been naturally retreating since 1850, driven primarily by increased sunshine from cleaner air rather than climate change.
Glacier loss is accelerating at an alarming rate, with 1000 glaciers disappearing annually now and potentially 3000 per year by 2040. Current climate policies will result in 79 percent of the world's glaciers vanishing by 2100, threatening water supplies for 2 billion people and raising sea levels by 25 centimeters while increasing deadly glacial lake floods.
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