Vanishing Glaciers in Venezuela: A Consequence of Climate Change?

Global warming is a global issue. While on the one hand, all the countries are trying to find some way to reduce its effect, on the other hand, human actions are making the condition worse. The high temperature and heat waves are being observed in almost all metropolitan cities. The hill stations are also facing high temperatures, and rains are being delayed. All, this is only because we as human beings ignored what we were taught in our science classes about the environment, global warming and tree plantation.

The effects of global warming are no longer limited to ozone layer depletion and the heating up of the earth, the melting of glaciers has also become evident. Recently, Venezuela, a country in South America which used to have 6 glaciers, lost its last one and became the first ever country in modern geography to lose all its glaciers. 

5 of its glaciers were already lost by 2011, it only had one left since then which also melted completely, now leaving the country glacier-less and excess of water in nearby water-bodies.

Why is it a Matter of Concern?

Ozone layer depletion and melting of glaciers have always been thought as the most drastic effects of global warming which may lead to a rapid increase in water level on the earth submerging the entire planet. The hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica was already a sign which should have triggered humankind on the earth to start thinking of ways how to either save themselves from drowning or save the planet from heating up.

Now that a country has already lost all its glaciers, we as humankind are getting another trigger warning that must not be left ignored. 

We all are already aware of the effects climate change is causing us. The earth is just a little less heated than a burning furnace right now. If deforestation, industrialisation, and modernization keep happening at the same pace, only God knows what may happen in the next few years. 

Talking about glaciers, if studies are to be believed, they suggest that two-thirds of the world’s glaciers will be melted by 2100. But looking at the unprecedented pace with which glaciers are melting and the ozone layer is depleting, we can’t believe this study completely.

As the people living on earth, surviving on its resources, it becomes our prime responsibility to look for ways to make the earth cooler and decrease the effect of global warming. And that would require a halt to the growing rate of deforestation and other anti-environmental activities in the name of industrialisation and modernisation.

It's high time, we focus on finding the solution instead of just staring at the problem waiting it for to become so huge that it couldn’t be solved.

Written by: Nidhi Jha