High above the equator, the Sudirman Range in Papua continued to speak of an old world of ice and snow for centuries. That story is now in danger, as the last alpine glaciers have already lost more than 95 % of their area since the 19th century.
Mount Shakab, the region’s highest peak, has been painted with a thin veil of snow only a few meters across, a stark contrast to the broad, white strands that once crowned the range. Scientists say this remaining ice could disappear in the next two years, leaving the mountains permanently bare.
For many Papuans, the mountain is more than a natural feature; it is a spiritual anchor. Names such as Mbainggela for the Moni people and Nemangkawi—or the ‘White Arrow’—for the Amungme embed the peak into cultural narratives of honesty, purity and moral guidance. The melting that leaves behind a bare peak strikes at the very roots of those traditions.
Warming temperatures move the freezing line higher up the mountains, turning more rainfall into liquid water, which melts the ice that used to linger. El Niño events, wind patterns and local cloud cover amplify the effect. Parking the melt in the valleys means the glaciers that shaped climate records for a thousand years are gone, taking with them scientific data and a cultural touchstone.
Beyond natural forces, mining and road construction increasingly scar the landscape. The Grasberg mine has carved out sections of the mountain, and towns now crowd the valleys that once held quiet, snow‑covered horizons. These developments bring jobs and infrastructure but also pollution and displacement for locals.
As global temperatures climb, the disappearance of Papua’s tropical snow becomes a tangible, fast‑moving reminder that climate change is not a distant threat. Indigenous voices, scientists and conservationists call on the international community to protect remaining ice and recognize the cultural loss that will follow. The story of this island’s 'eternal snow' is a warning that, even on warm Tundra, the legacy of ice is precarious.
