On March 20, 2025, the Central Asian Regional Glaciological Centre (Category 2) under the auspices of UNESCO (hereinafter referred to as the Centre) held a round table dedicated to the International Year of Glacier Preservation and World Glacier Day.

The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Glacier Preservation. «The preservation of glaciers is one of humanity’s most urgent tasks. These ancient ice formations are not just frozen water — they are keepers of our planet’s climatic history, a source of life for billions, and sacred sites for many cultures. Their rapid disappearance serves as a harsh reminder that we must take action now», - stated Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.

The importance of recognizing the role of glaciers in human life is reinforced by expert data: 70% of the world’s freshwater reserves are stored in glaciers and ice sheets, yet these formations are rapidly retreating due to climate change. The preservation of these resources is crucial for environmental sustainability, economic stability, and the protection of cultures and well-being.

“The World Meteorological Organization recently confirmed that 2024 was the warmest year on record and has repeatedly issued red warnings about the state of our climate, including glacier retreat. In 2023, glaciers experienced the largest ice mass loss in five decades of monitoring. The melting of ice and glaciers threatens the long-term water security of millions of people. This international year should serve as a wake-up call for the entire world», - stated Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the WMO.

The International Year of Glacier Preservation will help expand knowledge about 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 melt.

By decision of the United Nations General Assembly, World Glacier Day will be observed annually on March 21. In 2025, the first celebration of World Glacier Day took place on March 20-21, organized by UNESCO at its headquarters in Paris and by the UN in New York. On this occasion, UNESCO will dedicate its World Water Report to the issue of glaciers, presenting new data on their disappearance and the measures taken for their preservation.

The round table addressed topics related to the International Year of Glacier Preservation and the activities of the Centre. An overview of the Centre’s research and achievements was presented, including its mission, objectives, research methods, and key findings. Participants also discussed the “Water Towers Partnership” initiative, proposed by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, K. Tokayev, aimed at uniting global research centres to study and protect glaciers.

Experts from various institutions took part in the round table, held in honour of the first World Glacier Day. Among the participants were representatives of UNESCO - the National Coordinator for Kazakhstan of the AF-GEF projects, as well as specialists from scientific organizations such as the Institute of Geography and Water Security, the Ionosphere Institute, the “Kazselezashchita” service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan, and the `’Kazhydromet” National Hydrometeorological Service for Almaty and Almaty Region. Additionally, representatives from universities in Kazakhstan, including Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, contributed to the discussions.

As part of the International Year of Glacier Preservation, many events will be held, including a high-level international conference, which will take place in May 2025 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The conference will be attended by heads of state and government from the region and around the world, as well as representatives of major international and regional organizations.