Climate change, driven by human activities that increase greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere, leads to rising global temperatures, which significantly contribute to the melting of glaciers. 

As temperatures increase, glaciers experience direct surface melting, while warmer air holds more moisture, causing more precipitation to fall as rain rather than snow. This rainwater does not refreeze, further accelerating ice loss. Additionally, rising temperatures can melt the ice at the base of glaciers, reducing friction and allowing them to flow more rapidly towards the ocean, increasing the rate of calving, where chunks of ice break off into the sea. 

The ongoing melting of glaciers adds freshwater to the oceans, raising sea levels and disrupting marine ecosystems, highlighting the urgent need to address climate change.