Protecting glaciers – our most effective natural water manager

Glaciers play a unique and critical role in sustaining our planet’s ecosystems and human societies. Found in every region of the world, they are central to our global water cycle; sustaining life, shaping ecosystems, and providing freshwater for millions. They are vital reservoirs, attuned to our seasonal needs for water, silently operating to regulate our climate and supplying water for people and nature.  

Glaciers and ice sheets, holding 70% of the world’s freshwater, are melting at unprecedented rates due to rising temperatures.   We are losing our natural freshwater storage – our ultimate nature-based solution is eroding in front of us. The State of Global Water Resources 2023 reports the largest mass loss of glaciers in 50 years.

Although this will temporarily increase downstream water availability, the long-term loss of glaciers threatens water supplies for billions, disrupts ecosystems, raises sea levels, and destabilizes agriculture and industry. A third of glaciers in World Heritage sites are set to disappear by 2050. 

Climate change is already affecting global to local precipitation patterns, and it is how we respond to this in managing water where concerns lie.  Precipitation as rainfall and not snow is going to lead to shifts in water availability and run-off.  Capturing this water is going to become crucial for countries to adapt to shifting weather patterns and to ensure water security.   With over 2 billion people relying on glaciers for direct water supply, water storage, and protection from floods, ensuring water supply and protection is going to become critically important.  

So what can we do to protect glaciers?  Globally, the most obvious action is to rapidly reduce emissions and to limit global warming to 1.5° Celsius.  Nationally, countries need to develop specific policies to protect and safeguard the glaciers they have, and to integrate glaciers into national climate policies and adaptation planning.  It means integrating glaciers into national water management and flood protection strategies.   

Glacier (Pixabay)

Practically it means monitoring glacier change and melting over time, it means protecting glaciers from activities that can lead to their degradation such as certain tourism and infrastructure development activities, mining and glacier harvesting.  It means sharing experiences across borders and continents, harnessing the latest technology to understand the integrity of glaciers, establishing early warning systems for floods and outbursts, maximising nature-based solutions to adapt to the changing precipitation regimes and meltwaters such as restoring high mountain watersheds and wetlands that regulate glacier fed rivers.     

IUCN is committed to taking action. We promote and advocate for nature-based approaches. We work alongside scientists, policymakers, and communities to build resilience. We bring together scientific data and traditional knowledge to inform decisions.  

By safeguarding glaciers and prolonging their lifetime we can help to ensure stable water supplies for agriculture and food production, slow down rising sea levels, restore watersheds and improve cooperation between countries through data sharing agreements.  We can evolve transboundary water governance mechanisms to protect glaciers and high-altitude areas that transcend national borders and build resilience to climate change.  

But we must start today.
 

Publications: 
•    IUCN (2020). Sharing the benefits from river basin management. From theory to practice. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. 26pp: 

Visual Stories: 
•    The IUCN BRIDGE programme

In discussions surrounding water sustainability a recurrent theme has always been the use of water as a catalyst for peace and prosperity. This concept aligns with the objectives of IUCN’s BRIDGE programme which focuses on fostering dialogue and governance among nations and regions sharing transboundary rivers. By recognizing water as a common denominator rather than a source of conflict, the theme of water for peace resonates profoundly with our work.

With over fifteen years of experience, our work on transboundary cooperation serves as a prime example of how the theme of water for peace can be translated into tangible actions and outcomes. Through its efforts in facilitating dialogue, establishing cooperative frameworks, and mobilizing financial resources, we support countries and stakeholders to make significant strides in promoting water cooperation and stability in transboundary river basins, ultimately contributing to regional peace and sustainable development.