Every year on March 22, the world observes World Water Day, a crucial occasion highlighting the need for freshwater conservation and sustainable management. This year, the focus is on glacier preservation, as these frozen reservoirs play a vital role in global water security.

The idea for World Water Day was first proposed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992. The first official celebration took place in 1993, and in 2025, we mark its 32nd anniversary, reinforcing the urgency of water conservation in the face of climate change.

Glaciers supply freshwater to nearly two billion people, but they are melting at an alarming rate due to global warming. Data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) shows that Earth’s glaciers have lost over 8,200 gigatonnes of ice since 1976, with 6,000 gigatonnes lost between 2000 and 2023 alone.

Regions like Western Canada, the U.S., and Central Europe are witnessing rapid glacier loss, while even Antarctica, which rarely experiences ice loss, saw significant melting in 2023.

India's 9,000+ glaciers feed major river systems like the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus, supporting 600 million people in South Asia. However, studies warn that Himalayan glaciers could lose over 50% of their mass by 2100 if global warming continues.

Satellite data from ISRO shows that glacial lakes in India have significantly expanded since 1984, increasing the risk of glacial lake outburst floods and future water scarcity.

As World Water Day 2025 highlights glacier preservation, urgent climate action is needed to secure freshwater for future generations.