Glaciers: Earth’s Vital Water Lifeline

Context:

This analysis reframes glaciers as dynamic components of the global water cycle, critical for climate stability and human survival. The article ties into India’s environmental challenges and global climate action efforts, emphasizing the urgency of glacier preservation.

1. Global Recognition: The UN declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, with March 21 as World Day for Glaciers, starting in 2025, to mobilize action.
2. Glacier Role: Beyond static ice, glaciers regulate Earth’s water cycle, feeding rivers and supporting ecosystems; their retreat disrupts water availability.
3. UNESCO’s Warning: A 2022 study predicts one-third of glaciers in 50 UNESCO heritage sites (10% of Earth’s glacier area) may vanish by 2050 due to climate change.
4. India’s Stake: Himalayan glaciers, vital for rivers like Ganga and Indus, face rapid melting, threatening water security for millions in South Asia.
5. Climate Literacy Gap: A 2021 UNESCO study found 70% of global youth lack detailed climate change knowledge, necessitating better education on glaciers’ role.
6. Action Plan: UNESCO leads with research, advocacy, and the 2022 Climate Science Literacy exhibition to boost awareness and scientific collaboration.
7. Economic Link: Glaciers underpin agriculture, hydropower, and livelihoods; their loss could shrink economies in climate-vulnerable regions like India.
8. Call to Action: Protecting glaciers is framed as safeguarding humanity’s future, urging policy, education, and global cooperation over passive conservation.

Key Terms:

• Glaciers: Large ice masses regulating water flow and climate.
• World Day for Glaciers: Annual event (March 21) to raise glacier protection awareness.
• Water Cycle: Earth’s system of water movement, influenced by glaciers.
• UNESCO Heritage Sites: 50 glacier-rich sites facing climate threats.
• Climate Literacy: Understanding climate change and its impacts.
• Himalayan Glaciers: Critical water sources for South Asian rivers.
• International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation: 2025 UN initiative for glacier action.

Link To The Original Article – https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/not-frozen-relics-but-the-pulse-of-earths-water-system/article69354760.ece