- In December 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution to declare 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. This is also accompanied by the proclamation of March 21st of each year as the World Day for Glaciers starting in 2025.
Since the 1800s, human driven climate change has prompted a melt in the glaciers. Due to this, the United Nations declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation in order to raise awareness on the importance of the glaciers. This will be a joint celebration: the first World Day for Glaciers and World Water Day, which will be held on March 20-21, 2025 in UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, under the aligned theme "Glaciers' preservation."
In December 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution to declare 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. This is also accompanied by the proclamation of March 21st of each year as the World Day for Glaciers starting in 2025.
But why is this important? Glaciers and ice sheets store approximately 70% of the world’s fresh water, which are rising at unprecedented rates due to rising global temperatures. The day will raise awareness on the importance of glaciers, snow and ice in the climate system and the hydrological cycle, and the economic, social and environmental impacts of the impending changes in the Earth’s cryosphere.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) are invited to facilitate the implementation of the International Year and World Day as leading agencies.
This year, The International Year of Glaciers' Preservation 2025 will be kicked off with an official launch event on January 21, 2025. During this day, a high-level session and a series of online side events aiming to raise awareness, to stimulate action and to attract funding will be conducted.
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