Renewed calls to reduce our greenhouse gases, as our glaciers shrink at an alarming rate.

New figures reveal they've melted by a third over the past 40 years and researchers believe climate change is a major factor.

Victoria University climate scientist James Renwick said an abnormally hot summer could mean trouble for our icy landforms.

He told Rachel Smalley if the world doesn't act on climate change we could lose our glaciers altogether.

"New Zealand signed up to the Paris Agreement. If New Zealand and other countries can reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, it will slow and eventually stop the flow of glacier ice."

LISTEN TO JAMES RENWICK TALK WITH RACHEL SMALLEY ABOVE