Global warming and climate change have a dire impact on the environment. The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency has reported that the eternal snow in Cartenz Mountains, West Papua, Indonesia is melting.

This condition can be made worse by climate phenomena that can trigger more extreme droughts and higher temperatures during the dry season, namely El Nino which is hitting Indonesia again at this time.

When the El Nino phenomenon hits, drought and hot temperatures in the dry season become more extreme and prolonged.

The melting of the glaciers in Cartenz Mountains is massive every year. This is based on the results of paleoclimate analysis research based on ice cores carried out by the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency together with Ohio State University, United States.

It was stated that throughout 2015-2022, the rate of ice decline continued and did not seem to stop. BMKG noted that during this period the thickness of the ice melted as much as 2.5 meters per year. And it is estimated that the remaining ice thickness in December 2022 will only be 6 meters.

According to the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, ice cover in 2022 will be 0.23 km2 or a decrease of around 15% from the area in July 2021 which was recorded at 0.27 km2.

“The El Nino phenomenon in 2023 has the potential to accelerate the extinction of the Cartenz Mountains ice cover,” said Head of Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency Dwikorita Karnawati.

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In fact, in 2010 when this research began, it was reported that the ice thickness reached 32 meters. However, as climate change occurs in the world, until 2015, the thickness of ice has decreased at a rate of up to one meter per year.

Conditions got worse when in 2015-2016, Indonesia was hit by a strong El Nino phenomenon. Where the surface temperature becomes warmer. As a result, the glacier in Cartenz Mountains is melting up to five meters per year.

“In the last few decades, it has been reported that there has been a drastic reduction in the area of eternal snow in Cartenz Mountains,” he said.

If this happens, the extinction of eternal snow in Cartenz Mountains will have an impact on various aspects of life in the region. “The ecosystem around the eternal snow becomes vulnerable and threatened,” he said.

“It is important for all parties to increase awareness about the importance of protecting the environment. Climate change mitigation efforts should be the focus of all actions taken,” said Dwikorita.

He asked all parties to work together to take real action and mitigate climate change that is occurring in the world. “By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building renewable energy. This point is an important step in facing the challenges of climate change,” he said.

“Cross-sector cooperation to maintain the sustainability of ecosystems and community life in Indonesia needs to continue to be strengthened,” he added.

Dwikorita said that the melting of the eternal snow in Cartenz Mountains, Papua, is clear evidence that climate change has an adverse impact on life.

“The existence of eternal snow, which is Indonesia’s pride, is now threatened with extinction in the next few years. This is certainly a very significant loss for the Indonesian people,” he concluded.