11/09/2026
The annual Swiss Polar Day on September 9 offered an array of fascinating and thought-provoking presentations. One of the most compelling was given by senior researcher and glaciologist Matthias Huss from ETH Zurich.
Through striking photographs, videos, and graphs, he presented a powerful—and deeply sobering—overview of the situation facing glaciers in Switzerland and around the world. The message was impossible to ignore: our glaciers are disappearing rapidly as a consequence of global warming.
In Switzerland alone, more than 1,000 glaciers have vanished since the 1970s. Even more alarming, the total volume of Swiss glaciers has declined from approximately 75 km³ in 2000 to just 45 km³ in 2025.
When asked how he feels about witnessing these dramatic changes, Huss acknowledged that he feels genuinely sad when observing the speed at which the glaciers are retreating and disappearing. Yet his sadness has not weakened his determination. On the contrary, he emphasized his conviction that it is both important and his responsibility to continue documenting and reporting on these drastic changes.
To learn more about the Swiss Polar Day and the Swiss Polar Institute please see https://swisspolar.ch