Glaciers and mountains: melting water towers will aggravate global crises (report)

The United Nations World Water Development Report 2025, published by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water, reveals the extent to which climate disruption, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable activities are transforming mountain environments at an unprecedented rate, threatening the water resources upon which billions of people and countless ecosystems depend. There is now an urgent need for international cooperation and adaptation strategies and actions to face the unfolding crisis in our mountains and glaciers.

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Global Water Futures and the UNESCO Chair in Mountain Water Sustainability have contributed significantly to this report, specifically for Chapters 2 and 8. We would like to draw particular attention to the contribution of Zoë Johnson (HQP, Early Career Scientist) as first author for these chapters.

“The Great Thaw” book features GWFO sites across Western Canada

The Great Thaw: A Homage in Art to Vanishing Glaciers brings science and art together to inspire knowledge sharing and promote practical strategies for glacier preservation and adaptation. Featuring over 140 artworks paired with scientifically grounded explanations, The Great Thaw takes readers on a powerful journey to explore the impacts of climate change on glaciers and the broader cryosphere — snow and ice that sustain life in mountain, forest, and downstream regions.

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Video: John Pomeroy Provides Keynote at COP29 Cryosphere Pavilion

John Pomeroy provided a keynote at COP29 on the issues we face as we move from the International Year for Glaciers’ Preservation (2025) to the Decade of Action for the Cryospheric Sciences (2025-2034). The recording is available to watch below or on YouTube.

From the International Year of Glaciers Preservation to Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences

This event aims to launch a global call for bridging the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 and the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences 2025-2034. Leveraging the momentum from 2025 to build a solid foundation for the Decade, the event will focus on scientific collaboration, policy integration, and community actions. Further discussions will center on raising the profile of science and advancing scientific research to tackle cryosphere-related challenges globally. It will highlight the critical role of glaciers and the cryosphere in climate regulation, water resources, and sustainable development while emphasizing the urgent need for action.