Preserving glaciers is essential for environmental sustainability, economic stability and safeguarding cultural services, spiritual heritage and livelihoods.

 

The impact of glacier and cryosphere melt on agricultural production and food security is an issue that affects almost everyone. It has a direct impact on the millions of rural people living in mountains, half of whom are food insecure, as well as on the farming communities reliant on glacial melt and snowmelt for seasonal irrigation and during periods of drought. It also has an indirect impact on millions of people living downstream who rely on glacier- and cryospherefed rivers for irrigation and food security. Mountain communities are especially vulnerable to increasing climate variability and a reduction in seasonal water availability for agriculture and irrigation. They often have no viable alternative water supply, resulting in loss of agricultural production and increased food insecurity. In many cases, this can lead to climate mobility. Similarly, downstream irrigated agriculture is vulnerable to increasing seasonal variability within cryosphere-fed river basins. The implications of accelerating glacial and cryosphere melt, leading to increasing water variability, which in turn impacts agricultural production and food security for millions in mountains and downstream, are likely to increase in severity with further reductions in glacier/cryosphere mass in a warming world. These changes will also have global economic impacts, affecting other sectors such as hydropower, tourism, trade and transport. Preserving glaciers is essential for environmental sustainability, economic stability and safeguarding cultural services, spiritual heritage and livelihoods. When managed sustainably, mountain agriculture is not a driver of degradation but a solution, one that restores degraded ecosystems, safeguards soil and water, enhances biodiversity and strengthens the resilience of mountain communities. As such, agriculture is among the most practical and scalable solutions for sustainable mountain development. The theme of International Mountain Day 2025 'Glaciers matter for water, foodand livelihoods in mountains' is an opportunity to highlight the importance of glacier preservation for agriculture, water security and the livelihoods of vulnerable mountain communities. The policy recommendations outlined in this brief offer an array of potential options for policymakers and practitioners to consider and apply to specific