We are pleased to share details of six coordinated events featuring contributions from the UNESCO Chair in Mountain Water Sustainability, INARCH/GWFO, and the University of Saskatchewan, that are taking place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris to celebrate the World Day for Glaciers and World Water Day by closing the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 and launching the new Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences on 18-19 March,.  This includes the release of the Synthesis of the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences 2025-2034 report which has contributions from the University of Saskatchewan.

These events highlight scientific, artistic, and collaborative perspectives on cryosphere change and water sustainability

Registration for the zoom broadcast is free of charge, open to the public and permits viewing, and participation in Q&A sessions:  https://unesco-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_inKS8SghT8im69pjzHLlyw#/registration

March 18 – 11:00-12:30 CET (Paris)
Closing of the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 (IYGP)

• Moderators and Keynote: Ms Carolina Adler and Mr John Pomeroy, Co-Chairs of the Advisory Board of the IYGP2025
• Presentations and Roundtable:
• Ms Sara Manuelli, FAO Mountain Partnership, lead of the Task Force 1: Global Campaign for IYPG 2025
• Ms Neera Shrestha Pradhan, ICIMOD, lead of the Task Force 2: International Conferences, Regional Workshops, and Capacity Building
• Mr James McPhee, University of Chile in Santiago, lead of the Task Force 3: Research and Monitoring Initiative
• Ms Pam Pearson, ICCI, Lead of Task Force 4: Policy Advocacy, Partnerships, and Resources Mobilization
• Mr Koen Verbist, Programme Specialist, UNESCO
• Ms Sulagna Miishra, Scientific Officer, WMO

 March 18 – 12:30-13:00 CET (Paris)
 Handover Ceremony from the Year to the Decade

• Moderator: Mr Abou Amani, Secretary of the Intergovernamental Hydrological Programme of UNESCO
• Keynote on the Decade: Mr John Pomeroy, Chair of the Ad Hoc Management Committee of the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences 2025-2034
• Intervention on the synergies between the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences and International Polar Year from Ms Narelle van der Wel, Head, Cryosphere Monitoring, Predictions and Services Unit, WMO

 March 18 – 15:50-16:50 CET (Paris)
 Cryosphere loss and its consequences for Water resources

• Moderator: Mr Jeremy Ely, University of Sheffield
• Panelists: 

• • Mr Kaveh Madani, Director, Institute for Water, Environment and Health, United Nations University (UNU)
  • Ms Liss M. Andreassen, Immediate Past President of the International Association of Cryospheric Sciences
  • Mr Bapon Fakhruddin, Water Resources Management Senior Specialist, Green Climate Fund (GCF)
  • Mr Dhiraj Pradhananga, UNESCO Chair in Mountain Cryosphere and Water, Tribhuvan University
  • Ms. Lynda Brown, Inuit Cultural Educator, Canada
  • Mr. Thorsteinn Thorsteinsson, Icelandic Meteorological Office
  • Ms Grace Goodfellow, Association of Polar Early Career Scientists 

 March 19 – 14:00-15:30 CET (Paris)
 UNESCO Chair in Mountain Water Sustainability / CliC Side Event

Science, Societies, Ethical and Action‑Oriented Adaptation to Cryospheric Loss
Event information:
https://www.un-glaciers.org/en/articles/side-event-13-science-societies-ethical-and-action-oriented-adaptation-cryospheric-loss?hub=195

March 19 – 16:00-17:30 CET (Paris)
GWFO / INARCH Side Event

Integrated Observation and Prediction Systems for the Cryosphere
Event information:
https://www.un-glaciers.org/en/articles/side-event-20-integrated-observation-and-prediction-systems-cryosphere?hub=195

 USask The Great Thaw Exhibition at UNESCO

A special on-site artistic exhibition based on the USask/UNESCO book, The Great Thaw, exploring ice loss, climate change, and global water futures through visual art created in collaboration with scientists and communities.  https://gwf.usask.ca/outcomes/the-great-thaw.php

We hope you will join us for these important events as we continue to advance global understanding and dialogue on cryospheric change, water sustainability, observations, predictions, risk management, adaptation and societal engagement.

Please feel free to share this announcement with colleagues or networks who may be interested.