Highlight the importance of glacier preservation for agriculture, water security and the livelihoods of vulnerable mountain communities.

Glaciers matter for Water; Food and Livelihoods in Mountains and beyond



International Mountain Day 2025 is an opportunity to highlight the importance of glacier preservation for agriculture, water security and the livelihoods of vulnerable mountain communities.

Glaciers, vast reserves of ice and snow found across the planet, are far more than frozen landscapes - they are lifelines for ecosystems and communities. Yet, these critical components of the Earth's systems are undergoing rapid and alarming transformations with profound consequences for us all.

Glaciers and ice sheets hold around 70% of the world's freshwater. Their accelerated melting represents not only an environmental crisis, but a humanitarian one, threatening agriculture, clean energy, water security and billions of peoples’ lives. Their retreat, driven by rising global temperatures, is a stark indicator of the climate crisis. Melting glaciers and thawing permafrost increase risks such as floods, glacier lake outburst floods, landslides or enhanced erosion and sediment, endangering downstream populations and critical infrastructure.

Economically, sectors like agriculture, Mountain industry and hydropower, mountain tourism and transportation feel the strain of glacier changes. For many Indigenous Peoples, glaciers are sacred, and the disappearance of glaciers signifies a loss of identity and connection to nature.

Register to participate to the webinar!
Location: Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy

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