Photo:Adobe Stock/DJoseph

Glaciers are essential to Earth's ecosystem, serving as key freshwater reservoirs and indicators of the planet's health. They provide water to millions, regulate sea levels, and support biodiversity. Yet, these frozen giants are under threat. 

Three Olympic-sized pools of ice melt every second.  Rising global temperatures are causing glaciers to retreat rapidly, leading to water scarcity, higher sea levels, and more natural hazards. World Day for Glaciers (21 March), along with the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences (2025-2034), urges us all to protect their vital role in sustaining life for future generations.

Glaciers are considered important water towers since they store about 70% of the world's freshwater.

Natural Resources and the Environment