Spanish glaciologists warn the Ossoue glacier could vanish by 2034, a faster melt than previously forecast and signaling an accelerated climate-driven retreat.

In the French Pyrenees, the Ossoue glacier is melting faster than expected, with indications of total disappearance by 2034, earlier than the original projection of 2050.

The rapid glacier decline threatens local ecosystems, rock stability on slopes, and regional water resources, underscoring glaciers’ role as climate indicators and regulators.

An expedition led by eco-adventurer Florian Fiquet and glaciologist Pierre René, along with Moraine officials, gathered new data during the International Year of Glacier Preservation to emphasize climate-action urgency.

Measurements from mid-October 2025 show the glacier lost 3.25 meters of water-equivalent in a single year, nearly double its 2002–baseline annual average, marking one of the steepest retreats on record.

Around 90% of Pyrenean glacier areas are already deglaciated or recolonized by new habitats, and France plans to protect these zones by 2030.

The Ossoue glacier covers about 22 hectares and has shed roughly 220 meters in length, 50 meters in thickness, and about 60% of its surface area over 24 years.