As declared by the UN General Assembly in 2022, the first World Day for Glaciers will be held on March 21, 2025, as part of the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 (IYGP 2025). Additionally, World Water Day, held annually on March 22, will be dedicated in 2025 to the theme of ‘Glacier Preservation’.
Melting snow and ice from mountains are critical for freshwater supply in many regions. However, the interactions between glaciers, groundwater and permafrost remain under-researched.
With the support of the LUNA network, IAH has been involved in advocating for the importance of incorporating the groundwater component into cryospheric research. The aim is to hold a webinar on this topic during the World Water Day celebrations in March.
As a part of the launch event on 21st January, Governor UNESCO Chair on Sustainability at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain, and chair of the LUNA network Alice Aureli presented the opening remarks at a side event organised by the UNESCO Groundwater Youth Network, ‘Groundwater in Glacier Regions and Youth Participation’ which you can watch here.
In addition to this, Assistant Professor at the ENS-PSL Université Paris and Sorbonne Universités Sophie Violette gave a presentation (starting ~ 39 mins into the video) emphasizing the importance of including groundwater in research: Research and Monitoring in the Mountain Cryosphere – YouTube. Sophie is a member of the IAH Task Force for World Water Day 2025.
Find out more on the official website 2025 International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation | International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation
