Glaciers Under Threat: The UN's Call for Action

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation and designated March 21 as World Day for Glaciers. This initiative aims to raise awareness, promote research, and encourage global action to protect glaciers, which are rapidly disappearing due to climate change.

What Are Glaciers?

Glaciers are massive, slow-moving ice formations created by the accumulation of snow over time. They act as natural water reservoirs, gradually releasing freshwater into rivers and lakes. The largest glacier complexes are found in polar regions, with the Antarctic Peninsula alone covering 81,000 km².

Ice Sheets and Their Importance

Ice sheets are extensive masses of glacial ice, each covering over 50,000 km². Currently, only the Antarctic and Greenland Ice Sheets remain, containing 99% of Earth's freshwater ice. These ice sheets play a crucial role in regulating global temperatures and sea levels.

Glacial Loss: A Growing Concern

Glaciers are melting at an alarming rate. In 2023, glaciers worldwide experienced their greatest water loss in over 50 years. Switzerland alone lost 10% of its glacier mass between 2022 and 2023. According to the IPCC, glaciers have been losing 273 billion tonnes of ice annually since 2000. A UNESCO report (2022) warns that one-third of World Heritage site glaciers could vanish by 2050.

Impacts of Glacial Melting

Glacial loss is accelerating sea-level rise, disrupting weather patterns, and threatening water supplies for over two billion people. It also leads to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), which cause sudden, devastating floods, as seen in Sikkim (2023). Many cities like Lima, La Paz, and Kathmandu already face severe water shortages due to reduced glacial melt.

Way Forward

Protecting glaciers is crucial for climate stability, water security, and biodiversity. Governments must strengthen climate policies, reduce emissions, and invest in glacier conservation. Individuals can contribute by reducing carbon footprints and supporting sustainable practices. The 2025 International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation will play a vital role in driving global action and awareness.