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A United Call for Glacier Preservation

On this first-ever World Glacier Day, we are reminded of an undeniable reality: the glaciers of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region—our planet’s “Third Pole”—are melting at an alarming rate.

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On this first-ever World Glacier Day, we are reminded of an undeniable reality: the glaciers of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region—our planet’s “Third Pole”—are melting at an alarming rate. This is not just a crisis for the mountains; it is a crisis for humanity. The melting glaciers threaten water security, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of over two billion people who depend on them including those who live in the densely populated downstream river basins.

As we mark both World Glacier Day and World Water Day under the aligned theme of “Glacier Preservation,” we must recognize that glaciers and rivers are inextricably linked. They sustain life, shape ecosystems, and hold deep cultural and spiritual significance for mountain communities. And yet, these vital systems are gravely endangered by the consequences of our own actions.

A Call from the Mountains

Mountain communities in the HKH region are witnessing the stark and immediate impacts of climate change. Once snow-covered peaks now lie bare. Unseasonal snowfall disrupts agricultural cycles. The looming threat of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) grows with each passing year, threatening lives and livelihoods. Downstream, people face increasing risks from intense floods, landslides, and water scarcity. One disaster alone can erase decades of progress. If there is a battle cry from our region, it is this: the urgency to reduce global temperatures has never been greater.

The HKH region is home to over 54,000 glaciers, accounting for 9% of the world’s total glaciers. These glaciers are a critical source of water for nearly two billion people, sustaining agriculture, drinking water, and hydropower. However, recent studies show a 65% increase in glacier mass loss from 2010–2019, as compared to the previous decade.

Despite the scale of this crisis, our understanding of glacier dynamics remains incomplete. Only 38 glaciers in the HKH are monitored in situ, leaving us with limited ability to predict changes and prepare adaptation strategies. This is unacceptable. We must expand glacier monitoring, enhance data-sharing efforts, and improve access to high-resolution satellite imagery to refine our climate policies and responses.

International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation

As we approach the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP) 2025, we must seize this opportunity to amplify our efforts. The United Nations has designated this year to raise awareness of the vital role glaciers play in our climate system and water security.

ICIMOD is committed to supporting IYGP 2025 through Research and Monitoring, Policy Support, Capacity Building, Public Awareness.

ICIMOD’s #SaveOurSnow Campaign

Launched on May 29, 2023, the #SaveOurSnow campaign unites mountain communities, athletes, and scientists to raise awareness about the urgent need for climate action to protect the HKH region’s glaciers. This initiative highlights the critical role of the cryosphere in regulating water resources, supporting biodiversity, and maintaining livelihoods.

Strategic Actions to Mitigate Glacier Retreat

To safeguard our glaciers and water resources, we must take decisive action:

The Time to Act is Now

The rapid retreat of glaciers in the HKH poses a direct threat to water security, biodiversity, and human well-being. Preserving glaciers is not just an environmental imperative—it is a socio-economic necessity.

On this World Glacier Day and World Water Day, we reaffirm our commitment to glacier preservation. This means advocating for stronger climate policies, increasing investment in glaciology research, and integrating cryosphere science into national and international climate strategies.

I urge governments, scientists, businesses, and civil society to stand together. This crisis is not inevitable, and solutions exist. Let us unite to slow glacier retreat, build climate resilience, and secure a sustainable future for generations to come.

The time to act is not tomorrow—it is now.

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13 Oct 2023 China
在兴都库什-喜马拉雅,全民早期预警尚需更及时的实现

由气候驱动的风暴、洪水、热浪和干旱的经济代价首次被计算出来,即在过去20年中,人类付出的代价已达到1600万美元/小时。其中,三分之二的费用是由于生命损失,剩下的则是因为财产和其他资产损失。 而这不仅是兴都库什-喜马拉雅的统计数据。今年,在我们整个地区,气候灾害给许多家庭来了难以承受的损失:数百人丧生,更多的房屋、农作物和财产在毁灭性的洪水和山体滑坡中被毁。最近,上周锡金蒂斯塔河(Teesta river)爆发冰川湖溃决洪水,这清楚地提醒了人类,大自然的愤怒是无止境的。 今年的国际减灾日与我们区域内的家庭、科学家和政策制定者共同评估了季风和全球升温给人类和经济带来的沉重代价,恰逢其时。 展望未来,气候驱动的灾难将激增。联合国减少灾害风险办公室(UNDRR)预计,到2030年,我们每年将看到560起灾难,使3760万人陷入极端贫困。 科学表明,我们处在风险热点地区。不仅与极端降雨和冰冻圈变化相关,还有热浪、干旱和空气污染。因此,在计算这次季风事件的成本时,我们所有为该地区及其居民服务的人都有责任以更高的速度和更强的雄心,将科学、政策和行动联系起来,实现让所有人都能得到早期预警的目标。 我们急需捐助者深入了解该地区居民所面临的风险,无论是从危险量级和程度来看,还是从受影响的人口规模来看。我们迫切需要适应基金、绿色气候基金和儿童投资融资基金更快地分配到该地区,以及加强补偿机制的运作。 在ICIMOD,我们将在全球范围内倡导双方,还将在整个地区努力建立一种围绕防灾和数据共享文化;对政策制定者进行差异和关键行动领域的教育;为社区配备创新及可行的技术,并扩大以社区为基础的洪水预警系统。 我们所在地区的情况表明,全球范围内面临的灾害存在着巨大的不平等。我们的研究发现,当危机来临时,妇女和弱势群体受到的影响尤为严重。 为了消除这种不平等,我们郑重承诺通过整合工具、知识和资金,确保该地区居民能够有效抵御未来的冲击,并将妇女和弱势群体纳入我们战略的核心。对于兴都库什-喜马拉雅的国家而言,全民早期预警尚需更及时的实现。   白马·嘉措 总干事

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