Preserving Glaciers

The melting of glaciers is a natural process. The recession or melting of glaciers is mainly caused by global warming and climate change. This rate of melting of glaciers cannot be prevented unless all factors responsible for global warming and climate change are controlled. There is high interdependence between glaciers located in the Himalayas and the energy security of India; 33 per cent of India's thermal capacity and 52 per cent of hydropower are dependent on water from rivers originating from the Himalayas

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Since 1993, the United Nations has observed World Water Day (WWD) on 22 March annually for raising awareness of 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water, and taking action to tackle global water crises, having a core focus to support achievement of SDG 6, the goal on water and sanitation for all by 2030. Preserving glaciers is the 2025 theme of WWD which coincides with the International Glacial Year (2025) for raising awareness about the critical role of glaciers, snow and ice in the climate systems, the hydrological cycle, and in the Earth's cryosphere (e.g. the state of the Earth's ice and snow affecting every living being).

Glaciers are critical for human life; the melt water is used for drinking, and is essential for agriculture, industry, clean energy production and ecosystems. If glaciers melt rapidly, it causes uncertainty in water flows impacting people and our planet. Global reductions of carbon emissions and local strategies are required to adapt to shrinking glaciers.

The melting of glaciers affects every area: people in coastal areas are affected by sea level rise; people living in high mountainous areas are more prone to the risk of flooding, landslides and avalanches, and people living in downstream areas are dependent on water supply from glaciers. Glacier loss also contributes to loss of biodiversity, particularly the endemic species as well as loss of traditional ways of life.

Glaciers act as long-term reservoirs of pollutants like heavy metals, black carbon, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) into the atmosphere. These pollutants settle on to glacier surfaces through precipitation or dust and the meltwater carries contaminants to freshwater systems adversely impacting drinking water sources and aquatic life.