IAHS 2025 | SEIYGP

Event

Side Event

IYGP 2025 and Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences 2025-2034

About Event:

Saturday, October 11, 2025 (10:00-12:00) Timing (IST)

Mountain glaciers across the globe — from the Andes to the Alps, the Rockies to the Himalayas, and the high mountains of Africa and Central Asia — are shrinking at unprecedented rates due to accelerated climate change. These glaciers are critical sources of freshwater for billions of people and underpin ecosystems, cultures, economies, and disaster resilience across both high mountain and downstream regions. As the impacts of glacier and snowpack loss intensify, there is an urgent need to elevate mountain cryosphere science within water, climate, and development agendas.

This side event, organized by the IAHS International Commission of Snow and Ice Hydrology (ICSIH) in partnership with the UNESCO Chair in Mountain Water Sustainability, will convene an inclusive science-policy dialogue to mark the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 (IYGP2025) and help launch the UN Decade for Cryospheric Sciences (2025–2034). The event seeks to promote coordinated global efforts to address the hydrological, ecological, and societal implications of glacier and snow decline in mountain regions worldwide.

The session will bring together cryosphere and hydrology researchers, government and intergovernmental representatives, Indigenous knowledge holders, early-career professionals, and civil society leaders in an interactive panel discussion format, with one speaker from each group. This inclusive structure is designed to foster genuine dialogue across disciplinary, geographic, and generational boundaries—bridging science and policy to identify common goals, share emerging solutions, and catalyze international partnerships.

Key topics will include:

Emerging science on snow–glacier–climate–hydrology interactions in mountain regions
Cross-regional comparisons of snow and glacier changes and their hydrological impacts
Strengthening cryosphere-related hydrological monitoring and data-sharing networks
Integrating Indigenous, local, and youth knowledge into cryosphere science and resilience strategies
Strategies for science diplomacy and coordinated international action

The event will also provide a platform for announcing new initiatives under the Decade of Cryospheric Sciences, including joint research programs, capacity-building platforms, data-sharing frameworks, and policy engagement mechanisms. Outcomes from the discussion will be synthesized into a short summary report highlighting priorities for international collaboration and integration with IAHS initiatives such as HELPING.

A key academic partner in this event is the UNESCO Chair in Mountain Water Sustainability, which plays a pivotal role in bridging science, education, and policy for mountain regions. The Chair will support the event by convening experts across global regions, linking outputs to relevant UN and international frameworks, and promoting the integration of mountain cryosphere issues into water and climate dialogues at national and global levels.

By connecting diverse perspectives and knowledge systems, this side event will contribute to a more inclusive and globally coordinated response to cryosphere change — positioning glacier preservation at the heart of water security, climate resilience, and sustainable development for mountain communities worldwide.

Prerequisites:

All who are interested and willing to participate and contribute to:

International Commission of Snow and Ice Hydrology (ICISH) of IAHS https://iahs.info/Commissions--W-Groups/ICSIH-Snow-and-Ice-Hydrology/
UNESCO Chair in Mountain Water Sustainability https://research.ucalgary.ca/unesco-chair-mountain-water-sustainability
UNESCO IYGP2025 and UN Decade of Action for Cryopsheric Sciences (2025-2034)

Focus Group:

All of them: Undergraduate students, Researchers, Industry Professionals, Government Organizations/NGOs, Specific Scientific Community Members (Hydrologists and cryosphere scientists, Climate policy professionals, Researchers from mountain regions globally, Civil society and youth networks)