A new study found that Andean tropical glaciers have reached their lowest levels in 11,700 years, with drastic consequences for the Amazon due to the overlap of the two ecosystems. The findings come to light as record droughts in the Amazon in 2023 and 2024, exacerbated by climate change, have severely impacted local communities, including food insecurity and lack of access to drinking water. The ice loss in the Andes could reduce the water flow to the Amazon rivers by up to 20%. Venezuela is on the verge of becoming the first country in modern history to lose all its glaciers.
