UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 23rd March 2025

Home UPSC Current Affairs Glaciers — No Frozen Relics but the Pulse of Earth’s Water System

Glaciers — No Frozen Relics but the Pulse of Earth’s Water System

Why in news?

The UN General Assembly has declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation and March 21 as the World Day for Glaciers. The declaration is a response to the alarming rate of global glacier melt, which is accelerating sea-level rise, causing water scarcity, increasing Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), and destabilizing ecosystems and biodiversity.

Glacial Melt: A Global Crisis

2023 marked the greatest glacier water loss in over 50 years.
All glaciated regions worldwide reported ice loss for two consecutive years.
Switzerland alone lost 10% of its glacier mass between 2022–23.
The IPCC estimates an annual loss of ~273 billion tonnes of ice since 2000.

UNESCO’s Role and Warnings

UNESCO oversees 50 World Heritage Sites with glaciers, accounting for ~10% of Earth’s glacier area.
Its 2022 report warns that glaciers in one-third of these sites could vanish by 2050.
UNESCO also promotes climate literacy via exhibitions and scientific outreach.

Why Glaciers Matter

Glaciers are natural water reservoirs, feeding major rivers like the Ganga, Yangtze, Amazon.
Regions like the Himalayas, Andes, and Alps depend on glacial meltwater for agriculture, drinking water, and hydropower.
25 countries, home to 25% of the world’s population, already face extreme water stress.

Dangers of Melting Glaciers

Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) are rising.
- Case: South Lhonak Lake GLOF (Sikkim, 2023) destroyed Teesta hydropower infrastructure.
- Case: Bhotekoshi basin GLOF (Nepal, 2016) caused widespread destruction.
Loss of glaciers also disrupts mountain biodiversity, threatens endemic species, and destabilizes ecosystems.

Climate Literacy Gap

A 2021 UNESCO report found 70% of youth globally cannot explain climate change in detail.
To address this, UNESCO launched the Climate Science Literacy Exhibition to simplify complex issues and engage the public.

Relevant International Agreements & Goals

Framework/Initiative	Relevance
Paris Agreement (2015)	Aim: Limit warming to 1.5°C; glacier protection is essential to achieving this.
UN Water Action Agenda	Supports sustainable water resource management; glacier preservation aligns with this.
SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation)	Ensures water access, which glaciers naturally support.
SDG 13 (Climate Action)	Urges urgent efforts to combat climate change and its impacts.
UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme	Protects glacial ecosystems and mountain biodiversity.

India’s Role & Vulnerabilities

Himalayan glaciers are crucial for Indian rivers (Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra).
India faces GLOF risks, especially in Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh.
India has launched the National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) under its National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
Promotes glacier monitoring, early warning systems, and adaptive water management.

Conclusion

Glaciers are not just frozen water — they are the pulse of Earth’s freshwater system. Their disappearance signals more than just environmental loss; it represents a threat to humanity’s future. As UNESCO and UN agencies lead global efforts, countries like India must combine science, policy, and public participation to ensure that glacier preservation becomes central to climate resilience and water security. On this first World Day for Glaciers, the message is clear: protecting glaciers is protecting life.