This site uses cookies, as explained in our terms of use. If you consent, please close this message and continue to use this site.
Today, on the International Day of Action for Rivers, let us recognise and celebrate the vital role that rivers play in sustaining life—supporting ecosystems, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of billions of people.
Pema Gyamtsho
1 min Read
March 14, 2025 — Today, on the International Day of Action for Rivers, let us recognise and celebrate the vital role that rivers play in sustaining life—supporting ecosystems, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of billions of people. This annual observance, established in 1997 in Brazil, emerged from a global movement to protect rivers and the communities that depend on them. It is a day to reflect, raise awareness, and take meaningful action to safeguard these essential lifelines of our planet.
This year’s theme, “Our Rivers, Our Future,” serves as a powerful reminder that the health of our rivers is directly tied to our collective well-being, in fact our very survival. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, home to some of the world’s most vital transboundary rivers, including the Indus, Ganges, and Yarlung Zangbo-Brahmaputra. These rivers nourish an estimated 1.8 billion people downstream, providing water, food and energy across vast landscapes. However, climate change, unsustainable development, pollution, and water governance challenges threaten their health and the future of dependent communities.
At ICIMOD, we recognize that the future of these rivers depends on collaborative, science-based action. Through our River Basins initiative, we work closely with riparian nations to promote regional cooperation, integrated water governance, and climate-resilient policies. Our research in cryosphere monitoring, water security, and ecosystem-based adaptation is helping to shape sustainable solutions that protect these rivers and ensure they continue to support the people and biodiversity that rely on them.
But safeguarding our rivers requires a shared commitment. We must work together—across borders and sectors—to restore degraded river systems, uphold the right to clean water, and empower local communities to have a voice in shaping water policies. Whether through advocacy, sustainable policies, or grassroots action, we all have a role to play.
On this International Day of Action for Rivers, ICIMOD stands in solidarity with riverine communities, policymakers, and scientists striving to protect our freshwater ecosystems. Let this be a call to action—to preserve our rivers not just for today, but for generations to come.
In today’s age of information overload and sound bites, I frequently reflect back on the fundamentals and focus on key ...
Advancing cryosphere conservation and gender equity One of the highlights was our ‘Save Our Snow’ campaign, a rallying cry to ...
For good reason, much of the change that draws our attention these days is climate change. The variations in the ...
It is clear that the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis are very high for the people of the Hindu Kush ...
We join hands with world communities to celebrate World Environment Day (WED) on 5 June to celebrate the 2017 theme, ...
As we join the global community in marking World Water Day with the theme ‘Accelerating Change’, we are yet again ...
The world united around the slogan “Beat Plastic Pollution” on World Environment Day. The slogan, motivated by increasing awareness of ...
The year 2020 is behind us now and December was a busy month for us. We marked