The United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation to highlight the urgent need for action against the alarming rate at which glaciers are melting due to climate change. Glaciers are essential for maintaining ecosystems, freshwater reserves, and biodiversity. This initiative aims to mobilize global efforts to protect these vital natural resources.
Glaciers account for around 70% of the Earth’s freshwater and play a crucial role in maintaining river systems, ensuring water security, and regulating ecosystems. Furthermore, they are integral to sustaining biodiversity, as they are associated with critical habitats and support major river basins that provide water to billions of people globally.
The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region is particularly significant for glacier preservation as it hosts the largest ice reserves outside the polar regions. This area feeds into ten major Asian river systems and sustains nearly 240 million people, influencing the livelihoods of millions more downstream. Additionally, it contains four global biodiversity hotspots and is vital for climate regulation across South Asia.
The World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) reports on approximately 210,000 glaciers worldwide, utilizing glaciological and geodetic data. Their findings indicate a swift retreat of glaciers, with severe declines in mass balance and significant elevation changes over recent decades, primarily attributed to climate change.
Analysis reveals a consistent decline in glacier mass balance from 1976 to 2023, indicating severe elevation changes and an unprecedented acceleration in melting. Notably, the HKH region is warming at twice the global average, rendering its glaciers particularly vulnerable.
The retreat of glaciers poses a significant threat to water supplies, biodiversity, and ecosystems. It amplifies the risk of natural disasters such as glacial lake outburst floods, which can devastate local communities. In areas like the HKH, this retreat jeopardizes the lives and livelihoods of millions.
March 21 is designated as World Day for Glaciers to serve as an annual reminder of the importance of these ice masses and the necessity for global action to conserve them. This day aims to raise awareness about glacier preservation and their critical role in maintaining climate stability and freshwater resources.
Experts predict that many smaller glaciers may disappear by 2030, with larger glaciers likely to fragment into smaller units. This would drastically reduce freshwater availability, exacerbate climate change impacts, and trigger more frequent glacial disasters.
To combat glacier loss, various monitoring and conservation efforts are being implemented. Initiatives like the International Cryosphere Initiative and regional programs aim to address vulnerabilities and enhance the resilience of glacial ecosystems. International organizations such as UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organization are also working towards fostering global cooperation.
The HKH region, home to 330 biodiversity areas, supports a vast array of species and serves as a climate regulator for South Asia. However, it is among the most vulnerable regions to glacial melting and associated disasters, making urgent conservation efforts essential to protect these ecosystems.
“The future of glaciers mirrors the future of humanity—act now to preserve them and secure life on Earth.”
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