The United Nations has declared 2025 the International Year of Glacier Preservation

The importance of understanding the role of glaciers in human life is reinforced by expert data: 70% of the world's freshwater is stored in glaciers and ice sheets, but these ice formations are retreating rapidly due to climate change. Preservation these resources is essential for environmental sustainability, economic stability, and the protection of cultures and livelihoods. “The World Meteorological Organization recently confirmed that 2024 was the warmest year on record and has sounded repeated Red Alerts about the state of our climate, including the retreat of glaciers. In 2023, glaciers suffered the largest mass loss in the five decades of record-keeping. It was the second consecutive year in which all regions in the world with glaciers reported ice loss. Melting ice and glaciers threaten long-term water security for many millions of people. This international year must be a wake-up call to the world,” said Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the WMO.

The initiative to declare 2025 the Year of Glacier Preservation belongs to Tajikistan. In December 2022, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Glacier Preservation to increase knowledge of the role of glaciers, snow and ice in the climate system and the water cycle, as well as the far-reaching consequences of rapid glacier melting.

According to the UN General Assembly resolution, World Glacier Day will be celebrated annually on 21 March. In 2025, UNESCO will host the first-ever World Glacier Day at its headquarters in Paris on 20–21 March. On this occasion, UNESCO will publish the World Water Report on Glaciers, presenting new data on their disappearance and measures taken to conserve them. “The preservation of glaciers stands as one of humanity's most urgent challenges. These ancient ice formations are not just frozen water – they are the guardians of our planet's climate history, the source of life for billions, and sacred places for many cultures. Their rapid disappearance is a stark reminder that we must act now,” said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.

The International Year of Glacier Preservation will feature many events, one of the main ones being a high-level international conference to be held in Dushanbe in May 2025.

On 21 January 2025, the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva hosted the official opening of the International Year of Glacier Preservation (IYGP 2025) at a high level.

The opening ceremony highlighted the need to immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions to preserve glaciers and address their accelerated melting. 2025 marks the next round of climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. The International Year of Glacier Preservation will highlight the need to reduce fossil fuel use globally.

The presentation was attended by representatives of the scientific community involved in the cryosphere, politicians, representatives of financial institutions, volunteers from 35 countries and more than 75 international organizations.

The Central Asian Regional Glaciological Center (CARGC) is participating in the implementation of the tasks of the 2nd Working Group, headed by Ms. Nira Pradhan (ICIMOD). In her report, she spoke about the contribution of the group members to the Year. CARGC is participating in the preparation of an important event - the International High-Level Conference on Glacier Preservation, which will be held on May 29-31, 2025 in Dushanbe (Tajikistan). The conference is expected to be attended by leaders of states and governments of the region and the world, as well as representatives of major international and regional organizations.

UNESCO has created a special portal dedicated to the International Year of Glacier Preservation.