On March 21, the United Nations will officially announce the first day of the glacier. The simultaneous events at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and the United Nations Educational and Science Organization (UNESCO) in Paris will convene glaciers, policy makers and media to focus on the issue of melting glaciers.
These efforts are driven by awareness of the critical role played by glaciers in ecosystems, tourism, indigenous peoples and freshwater supply. 70% of the world’s fresh water is stored in ice or snow. Glacier melting forms a key source of drinking water for 2 billion people. Rising temperatures are changing the water system. According to a report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), in 2023, the largest measurement in 50 years was lost. In the 1970s and 1980s, glaciers in most areas were close to equilibrium or slightly negative. Ice damage was reported in all glacial areas in 2022 and 2023. The decline caused landslides, downstream flooding and sea level rise. These increases are an urgent issue for glaciers, communities living in lower glaciers or countries with risk of sea level rise.
World Day of Glaciers is part of a wider movement that aims to make the protection and support of glacier science at the forefront of international diplomatic dialogue. Following the December 2022 resolution proposed by the Tajikistan government, the United Nations designated 2025 as the International Year of Glacier Preservation and 2025-2034 as a decade of action for frozen phosphorus science. UNESCO and WMO are leading the implementation of these activities.
Sulagna Mishra, a science official at WMO, told Glacierhub that the day of designated glaciers is intended to encourage advocacy, raise awareness and encourage mobilization of research funds. These short-term goals are scaffolded by long-term designated years and decades, and are designed to provide a platform to bring together different NGOs, stakeholders and funders.
The main reason for glacier retreats is the increase in average temperatures due to increased greenhouse gas emissions. Without the ability to directly reduce global emissions, these international movements themselves cannot retain glaciers: their impact must emerge due to the concern about the importance of melting glaciers. Lisa Dale, director of the MA Climate and Social Program at Columbia Climate School, told Glacierhub that she was skeptical: “The United Nations will make a big difference in disaster-related results related to glacier melting.” But, she said, there could be “neighborhood benefits.”
One of these benefits may be the intergovernmental organization specifically targeting Cryosphere. Anil Mishra, head of hydrological systems for hydrological systems, climate change and adaptability at UNESCO, said that over the decade, the successful outcome of Cryopheric Sciences’ decade could be the establishment of an agency similar to the International Hydrological Program, which is the only UN organization that manages intergovernmental cooperation on water-related issues. Despite geopolitical problems arising from melting glaciers, there is currently no equivalent institution in the United Nations’ frozen circle.
Part of UNESCO and WMO strategies is to challenge the previous success of similar programs. For example, the International Hydrology Program was held in 1975 after the decade of International Hydrology. Similarly, the annual survey of World Water and Water-related Issues is published annually on World Water Day. UNESCO will dedicate its 2025 report to the melting glacier issue. World Water Day will be held on March 22 and will be themed “Glacier Protection”.
On March 20, scientists and experts will lead a brainstorming conference on Cryosphere observational research and science at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The meeting will focus on the socio-economic impacts of glacier melting, policy and education, and will be held at a financial meeting chaired by the Asian Development Bank. In Paris, on March 21, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay will open the event and then hold a roundtable discussion with government ministers representing Tajikistan, France and Italy, as well as delegations from Latin America, Africa and Arab countries. The meetings are open to everyone and aim to share best practices on mitigating and adapting to glacier melting.
In New York, at the United Nations Headquarters, the March 21 event will be addressed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Secretary-General of the WMO and the United Nations of Tajikistan. World Glacier Day and World Water Day will be celebrated, with experts conducting a leadership group discussion on each topic. Unlike the UNESCO event in Paris, this event will not be open to the public.
The events held in Paris and New York were held ahead of an international conference held in Duchampbe, the capital of Tajikistan, from May 29 to June 1. The delegation supervisor will issue a political statement and the meeting will bring together diverse stakeholders in the private, academic and public spheres. Participants will be invited to conduct field visits to observe examples of glacier degradation and sustainable development.
Tajikistan is particularly at risk of glacier melting. It has lost more than a thousand glaciers, which has had a significant impact on the country’s agricultural production. It emits relatively little greenhouse gases, deriveing most of the electricity from renewable energy sources, especially hydropower. Although Tajikistan suffers from climate change caused by a large number of transmitters, it has little ability to directly affect these global emissions.
At current warming levels, most glaciers have locked in the midst of years of melting. UNESCO and WMO outline several key initiatives for the International Year of Glacier Preservation to accommodate this increase in glacier melting. These include expanding glacier monitoring and early warning systems, sustainable water management programs and the conservation of glacier-related cultural heritage.
Although these goals are small compared to the root cause of the problem, they may have an impact.
Scott Barrett, professor of natural resources economics at the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs, made the following comparison. He told Glacierhub that in 1965, “The White House was looking for a plan that could be announced as a contribution from the United Nations Year of International Cooperation. [Donald Henderson, an American physician] A five-year briefing elimination and measles control plan was proposed…it was approved by President Lyndon Johnson… [and] The goal was achieved in 1977. “Similarly, the United Nations attempt to draw attention to glacier preservation may be fruitful. The question becomes whether the right support can be found.
