Recognizing the rapid disappearance of glaciers due to climate change, the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2025 as the International Year of Glacier Preservation (IYGP) in collaboration with UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to protect freshwater sources vital to over 2 billion people worldwide. Currently, glaciers and ice sheets hold approximately 70% of the world’s freshwater. The rapid loss of these water sources represents an environmental crisis requiring urgent action.
“The melting of ice and glaciers poses a long-term threat to humanity’s water security,
affecting the lives of millions of people worldwide. This year presents a crucial opportunity to raise awareness
and alert the global community to the creeping crisis.”– WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo
Warning signals from disappearing glaciers In 2023, the most severe glacier loss in 50 years occurred, with all glacier regions worldwide affected by continuous melting, particularly in Switzerland, which lost 10% of its glacier mass in just two years. This situation has created significant concern among UNESCO experts, as 50 World Heritage sites containing glaciers, covering nearly 10% of the world’s glaciers, are in crisis. Recent studies predict that one-third of these World Heritage sites will disappear by 2050, with the situation becoming more severe in 2024, the hottest year in recorded history, particularly in Central Asia, which has been heavily impacted. For example, Tajikistan has already lost more than one-third of its glaciers. This crisis affects not only ecosystems but also water security and the livelihoods of local communities. Scientific modeling indicates this process will continue until global temperatures stabilize, meaning glacier melting will persist and be difficult to halt during this period. Addressing this problem requires global cooperation and urgent policy changes to mitigate the impending impacts.
Global glacier conservation pathway The International Glacier Preservation project is a key initiative for 2025, aimed at raising awareness about the glacier crisis in climate control and ecosystem support. It emphasizes strengthening scientific understanding through programs such as the Global Cryosphere Watch to effectively translate data into action, while building policy frameworks by integrating glacier conservation into climate strategies such as the Paris Agreement. Additionally, fundraising serves as a crucial mechanism for driving glacier conservation, with the primary goal of supporting vulnerable communities and preparing them to cope with climate change impacts through funding for adaptation and damage mitigation, alongside engaging youth and local communities to create awareness and establish effective and sustainable conservation approaches.
“Glaciers don’t care whether we believe in science or not. They simply melt in the heat.”
– Dr. Carolina Adler
2025: A crucial starting point for the global glacier conservation campaign. The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2025 as the “International Year of Glacier Preservation” (IYGP) and has also declared March 21 of every year as World Glacier Day, beginning with the first celebration of World Glacier Day on March 21, 2025. There will be an important conference in May in Tajikistan, bringing together scientists, policymakers, and community leaders from around the world to jointly find solutions and create cooperation in glacier protection. The expectation is that the world will become more aware and increase participation in protecting glacier ecosystems threatened by climate change, requiring collective efforts from countries, organizations, and individuals worldwide to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for upcoming changes This aligns with Bahodur Sheralizoda’s statement emphasizing that glacier conservation requires cooperation from all countries through redirecting operations consistent with the Paris Agreement and the 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature control target.
2025 will be a time when humanity realizes the necessity
of changing approaches to living and development that impact the world,
by turning attention to environmental conservation and restoration
to help and protect glaciers, ourselves, and our world,
marking an important beginning for creating a sustainable future.– Dr. Pomeroy
Strategy and International Cooperation Coordination Division
National Economic and Social Development Council
References
Unesco. (2025). Launch of the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. Retrieved from https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/launch-international-year-glaciers-preservation
United Nations. (2022). Iconic World Heritage glaciers to disappear by 2050, warns UNESCO. Retrieved from https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/11/1130157
United Nations. (2025). Climate emergency: 2025 declared international year of glaciers. Retrieved from https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/01/1159236
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