International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP) 2025 A Call to Save Earth’s Frozen Lifelines
In December 2022, the United Nations declared 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP), with March 21 as World Day for Glaciers. Co-led by UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), this initiative underscores the vital role of glaciers in the climate system, water cycle, and human survival while addressing their rapid retreat due to climate change. With over 275,000 glaciers spanning 700,000 square kilometers and holding 70% of Earth’s freshwater, their preservation is a global priority.
Why Glaciers Matter
Glaciers are critical “water towers,” providing freshwater to over 2 billion people in regions like the Himalayas, Andes, and Central Asia. They regulate climate by reflecting sunlight, stabilize ecosystems by feeding rivers, and preserve climate records in ice layers. For Indigenous communities in Asia, Latin America, and East Africa, glaciers hold deep cultural and spiritual significance. Their loss threatens water security, biodiversity, livelihoods, and heritage.
Launched on January 21, 2025, in Geneva, the IYGP aims to unite governments, scientists, and communities. Tajikistan will host an International Glacier Preservation Conference from May 29 to June 1, 2025, to drive solutions. The UN’s Decade of Action for Cryosphere
Sciences (2025–2034) emphasizes long-term glacier research and preservation.
The Crisis of Glacier Retreat
Climate change is accelerating glacier melt. WMO’s 2023 report recorded the largest glacier mass loss in 50 years, with all glaciated regions retreating for two consecutive years. The Hindu Kush Himalayas, warming twice as fast as the global average, risk losing two-thirds of their glaciers by 2100. Tajikistan has lost over 1,000 glaciers, depleting one-third of its glacier volume.
A 2025 study warns that 40% of glaciers are doomed to melt, even if warming halts now. At the current 2.7°C warming trajectory by 2100, 76% could vanish. Glaciers like Nepal’s Yala (retreated 680 meters from 1974–2021) and Canada’s Peyto (projected to disappear by 2030) highlight the urgency.
Future Harms if Glaciers Aren’t Preserved (2025–2030)
Without action in the next five years, glacier loss will cause severe impacts:
Water Scarcity:
By 2030, reduced flows in rivers like the Indus and Ganges could threaten water for billions. Central Asia, reliant on glaciers for 80% of water, faces shortages, disrupting agriculture and hydropower.
Sea Level Rise:
Glacier melt could add centimeters to sea levels by 2030, flooding coastal cities, eroding beaches, and salinizing aquifers, endangering Small Island Developing States.
Natural Hazards:
Melting glaciers increase glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), risking devastation, as seen in the 2022 Marmolada collapse in Italy.
Economic Losses:
Glacier retreat will hit tourism and agriculture, affecting mountain economies and food security.
Cultural and Scientific Loss:
By 2030, vanishing glaciers in UNESCO World Heritage Sites will erase climate records and sacred sites
Our Efforts–Preserving glaciers requires collective action at all levels:
Reduce Carbon Footprint:
Individuals can cut emissions by using public transport, biking, adopting plant-based diets, and using energy-efficient appliances. Supporting renewable energy policies amplifies impact.
Advocate for Policy Change:
Urge governments to align with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target and fund glacier monitoring, like ESA’s CryoSat program.
Support Conservation Initiatives:
Donate to or volunteer with organizations like UNESCO’s glacier projects or the UN Trust Fund for glacier preservation.
Raise Awareness:
Share IYGP 2025 events on social media and educate communities through workshops, emphasizing youth and Indigenous perspectives.
Conserve Water:
Reduce household water waste and support sustainable agriculture to ease pressure on glacier-fed rivers.
Engage in Citizen Science:
Participate in glacier monitoring projects to aid research and policymaking. Leveraging External Sources for Glacier Preservation
External sources—international organizations, technology, and funding—can significantly enhance preservation efforts:
International Collaboration:
Partner with organizations like UNESCO, WMO, and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). These groups provide funding, expertise, and platforms like the Tajikistan conference to coordinate global efforts.
Advanced Technology:
Leverage satellite monitoring (e.g., NASA’s GRACE, ESA’s Cryo Sat) and AI-driven climate models to track glacier retreat and predict risks. Drones and IoT sensors can improve real-time data collection in remote areas.
Financial Support:
Tap into climate funds like the Green Climate Fund or the UN Trust Fund to finance adaptation projects, such as early warning systems for GLOFs or water management in glacier-dependent regions.
Private Sector Involvement:
Engage companies in sustainable practices, like funding reforestation or renewable energy projects to reduce emissions impacting glaciers.
Indigenous Knowledge:
Collaborate with Indigenous communities to integrate traditional practices, such as water conservation techniques, into preservation strategies.
A Path Forward The IYGP 2025 calls for urgent action to curb emissions, enhance monitoring, and fund adaptation. Combining individual efforts, global cooperation, and external resources like technology and funding is critical. As WMO’s Celeste Saul stated, “Melting glaciers threaten water security for millions. This year must be a turning point.” By acting now, we can protect glaciers and secure a sustainable future.
further more details please check-
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/highlight/2025-06-03.html
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/highlight/2025-05-29.html
