Global Spotlight on Melting Glaciers as International Mountain Day is Observed

International Mountain Day is being marked today worldwide, including Nepal, with events focused on the urgent threat climate change poses to mountain ecosystems. Celebrated every December 11, this year’s theme, “Glaciers matter for water, food, and livelihoods”, highlights how vital glaciers are for human survival.

Awareness rallies, webinars, and conservation activities are drawing attention to rapidly melting glaciers, which experts warn are increasing the risks of floods, landslides, GLOFs and water scarcity for millions.

The UN has declared 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation to boost global efforts toward glacier protection. FAO notes that glaciers and ice sheets store nearly 70% of the world’s freshwater, meaning their loss threatens agriculture, energy, tourism, and communities worldwide.

For many Indigenous groups, glaciers also carry cultural and spiritual significance, making their disappearance a deep emotional loss.