The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP). Glaciers are disappearing at an alarming rate due to climate change and the rise in global temperature putting the already stretched resource in a precarious situation as these vital water sources, provide fresh water to more than 2 billion people.
IYGP is co-facilitated by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to unite efforts to protect glaciers and ice sheets which hold around 70 percent of the world’s freshwater and mitigate the looming environmental and humanitarian crisis.
In 2023, glaciers experienced their most significant water loss in over half a century, marking the second consecutive year of ice loss across all glaciated regions globally. Switzerland alone saw a dramatic 10% reduction in glacier mass between 2022 and 2023, as reported by the WMO.
Dr. Lydia Brito, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, highlighted during a Geneva event that glaciers within the 50 UNESCO heritage sites account for nearly 10% of the planet’s glacier area. However, a recent study warns that glaciers in one-third of these sites could vanish by 2050. With 2024 officially declared the hottest year on record, the urgency for immediate and decisive action is greater than ever.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo emphasized this urgency, saying “Melting ice and glaciers threaten long-term water security for many millions of people. This international year must be a wake-up call to the world.”
The panel emphasized the critical role of glaciers, snow, and ice in regulating the climate and supporting ecosystems and communities. Dr. Carolina Adler of the Mountain Research Initiative noted, “Glaciers don’t care if we believe in science—they just melt in the heat.”
Key goals include raising awareness, advancing scientific research through initiatives like the Global Cryosphere Watch, integrating glacier preservation into climate policies such as the Paris Agreement, mobilizing financial support for vulnerable communities, and engaging youth and local stakeholders.
The inaugural World Glacier Day will be celebrated on March 21, 2025, aligning with World Water Day the following day. In May, Tajikistan will host the International Glacier Preservation Conference, gathering scientists, policymakers, and community leaders to discuss solutions and forge partnerships.
