Oslo
Melting glaciers and receding snow cover could cause catastrophic floods and water shortages by the end of this century, a new U.N. report says. “The Global Outlook for Snow and Ice,” written by 70 international scientists and released this week in Oslo, said the lack of ice cover could accelerate global warming, because ice cools the planet by reflecting heat into space. As sea levels rise, coastal areas will flood, and people who get their fresh water from spring thaws—including 1.5 billion Asians—will suffer water shortages. The rate at which the Greenland ice sheet is melting has doubled in just the past three years. Hunters in Greenland have replaced dog teams with motorboats, due to the lack of solid ice.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Mickey 17: 'charming space oddity' that's a 'sparky one-off'The Week Recommends 'Remarkable' Robert Pattinson stars in Bong Joon-ho's sci-fi comedy
-
EastEnders at 40: are soaps still relevant?Talking Point Albert Square's residents are celebrating, but falling viewer figures have fans worried the soap bubble has burst
-
What will the thaw in Russia-US relations cost Europe?Today's Big Question US determination to strike a deal with Russia over Ukraine means Europe faces 'betrayal by a long-term ally'
