# The Next 20 Years of Life on Earth: Runaway Global Heating.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-20-years-of-life-on-earth-runaway-global-heating/523675>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [January 4, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-20-years-of-life-on-earth-runaway-global-heating/523675 "2010-01-04T21:33:33Z")\
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**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-20-years-of-life-on-earth-runaway-global-heating/523675/132 "2010-01-11T22:36:32Z")

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> [@Quartz](#):
>
> Glaciers have retreated before (q.v. Switzerland) or even disappeared (q.v. Africa) before. That glaciers have been retreating is not necessarily abnormal.

Yes, but these Asian glaciers are the primary source for rivers such as the Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Mekong, etc, that billions of people rely on for irrigation and drinking. A bit different than losing the snows of Kilimanjaro.

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