Yangyel Lhaden
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) joined alongside UNESCO, UNESCAP, and the Asia-Pacific Forum in conducting virtual events during the launch of the International Year of Glacier Preservation ( IYGP) yesterday with a series of virtual events to raise awareness, encourage action, and attract funding to protect these frozen assets.
The initiative aims to raise awareness, foster international cooperation, and attract funding to protect glaciers, snow, and permafrost in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, with member countries sharing common challenges and solutions with the global audience.
To raise awareness and promote action to preserve glaciers, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2025 as the International Year of Glacier Preservation (IYGP). For the first time, March 21 will be observed as World Day for Glaciers. This initiative was unanimously adopted at the 36th United Nations-Water Meeting in 2022, and UN-Water Members and Partners decided to align the World Water Day theme with “Glacier Preservation” starting in 2025.
Established in 1983 and based in Kathmandu, Nepal, ICIMOD has been at the forefront of raising awareness and collecting critical data on the cryosphere in the HKH since 1986. The HKH region spans eight countries—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan—and is home to over 50,000 glaciers, including 14 of the world’s tallest peaks and 10 major river basins. The glaciers in the region are critical freshwater sources for major river systems and directly support the livelihoods of 240 million people living in the mountains, while sustaining nearly 1.9 billion people downstream.
ICIMOD’s key initiatives include the creation of a comprehensive glacial lake inventory, snow cover mapping, and support for glaciologist education through master’s courses. ICIMOD also supports monitoring mass balance changes in benchmark glaciers, assessing the impacts of climate change, and studying glacier terminus retreats.
The virtual event brought together ICIMOD experts and representatives from member countries that shared innovative and co-operative approaches to securing water resources in the HKH region. By addressing the challenges of accelerated glacial melt and climate change, it emphasised the interdependence between the cryosphere, water security, and regional stability.
The event promoted regional cooperation on transboundary water management, leveraging science diplomacy to share actionable strategies, including science-based assessments, nature-based solutions, and policy recommendations.
Sher Muhammad, a cryosphere specialist at ICIMOD, highlighted the importance of understanding snow in glacier preservation and the challenges of monitoring snow cover in high-altitude regions, where ground measurements are scarce due to logistical and accessibility constraints.
He noted that remote sensing data, such as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), has been widely used for over two decades, but its limitations—such as cloud cover and off-nadir views—often lead to inaccuracies.
He emphasised the need for member countries to enhance snow monitoring by integrating ground-based measurements, satellite data, and modeling approaches. “These efforts aim to improve decision-making in the HKH region, inform hydropower planning, and raise public awareness about water and energy security.”
Member countries and ICIMOD officials highlighted the common challenges they faced and the need for continuous support to mobilise funding, advance research, and develop innovative technologies to monitor and mitigate the effects of climate change on the cryosphere.