Key Takeaways:
- Glaciers are vanishing at an alarming rate, with 2023 marking the worst water loss in over 50 years and 2024 confirmed as the hottest year on record.
- A global initiative led by UNESCO and WMO aims to raise awareness, strengthen policies, and mobilize financial resources to protect glaciers.
- 2025 milestones include the first World Glacier Day on March 21 and an International Glacier Preservation Conference in Tajikistan.
A Global Wake-Up Call
UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) are spearheading a global initiative to protect Earth’s glaciers, which provide freshwater to over 2 billion people.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo underscored the urgency:
“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.”
Alarming Data on Glacier Loss
Glaciers and ice sheets hold 70% of the world’s freshwater, yet rapid melting is accelerating climate and water security crises.
- 2023 saw the greatest glacier water loss in over 50 years, marking the second consecutive year of ice loss in all glaciated regions worldwide.
- Switzerland lost 10% of its total glacier mass between 2022 and 2023, according to WMO data.
- UNESCO warns that glaciers in one-third of its heritage sites are expected to disappear by 2050.
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Dr. Lydia Brito, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, highlighted:
“50 UNESCO heritage sites with glaciers represent almost 10 per cent of Earth’s glacier area.”
2025 Key Initiatives
The initiative focuses on raising awareness, advancing scientific research, strengthening climate policies, and securing financial resources to support affected communities.
Dr. Carolina Adler of the Mountain Research Initiative stated:
“Glaciers don’t care if we believe in science – they just melt in the heat.”
Efforts will include:
- Expanding scientific monitoring through the Global Cryosphere Watch.
- Integrating glacier preservation into global climate strategies, including the Paris Agreement.
- Funding adaptation efforts for vulnerable communities.
- Engaging youth and local communities in climate action.
Major Climate Milestones in 2025
The campaign will mark key moments to drive action:
- March 21 – The first-ever World Glacier Day, coinciding with World Water Day.
- May – Tajikistan hosts the International Glacier Preservation Conference, uniting scientists, policymakers, and community leaders.
Bahodur Sheralizoda, Chair of Tajikistan’s Committee of Environmental Protection, emphasized:
“Let us be clear, the only way to preserve glaciers as an important resource for the entire planet is for all governments to collectively course correct with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) fully consistent with the 1.5°C Paris Agreement limit.”
Challenges Ahead
While climate action remains crucial, some glacier loss is inevitable due to past emissions and rising temperatures.
Dr. John Pomeroy from the University of Saskatchewan warned:
“We must prepare for cryospheric destruction through urgent policy changes.”
The impact is particularly severe in regions like Central Asia, where glacier loss is triggering water security crises. Dr. Brito noted:
“In Tajikistan alone, nearly 1,000 glaciers have melted, accounting for one-third of the country’s glacier volume.”
A Shared Responsibility
The International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP) aims to galvanize global action.
Dr. Pomeroy concluded with a powerful message:
“History will record that 2025 was the tipping point where humanity changed course and eventually saved the glaciers, ourselves, and our planet.”
