World Water Day: The urgency of glacier preservation for our future

World Water Day (WWD), held annually on March 22 since 1993, is a United Nations observance to raise public awareness of water resource conservation. One of its main goals is to support the achievements of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.

Each year, the UN's coordination mechanism on water and sanitation, UN-Water, determines the theme for WWD. This year marks the 33rd WWD, and the theme is "Glacier Preservation."

Glaciers are masses of ice formed from accumulated snow that are capable of movement. In high-latitude and high-altitude regions, when snow accumulates and remains year-round without melting, it undergoes a series of physical transformations to become ice. Once the ice reaches a certain thickness, it begins to move under the influence of gravity and its own weight, thus forming a glacier.

According to China Media Group, 71 percent of the Earth's surface is covered by water, only 2.5 percent is freshwater. Of this freshwater, less than 0.3 percent is actually usable. Besides, around 2.7 billion people globally are confronted with severe water scarcity.

Approximately 70 percent of the Earth's freshwater exists as snow or ice. 2 billion people depend on natural reservoirs for freshwater resources from melting glaciers, according to the UN WWD Report released March 21.

However, glaciers around the world have been in a general state of retreat since the mid-19th century. The years 2022 to 2024 have seen the largest glacier mass losses on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

The total area of glaciers in China was approximately 46,000 square kilometers, with about 69,000 individual glaciers around 2020. Compared to the First Chinese Glacier Inventory, the glacier area in China decreased by about 26% from the 1960s to 2020, at a rate of 4.8% per decade. During this period, approximately 7,000 small glaciers vanished completely, according to the Third Chinese Glacier Inventory released on Friday.

The primary causes of glacier melting are multifaceted. Global warming, which leads to rising temperatures, is a major driver that accelerates the melting of glaciers. Seasonal variations also play a significant role, as higher temperatures in summer speed up the melting process, while reduced snow accumulation in winter results in an imbalance of glacier mass. Additionally, the deposition of black carbon from air pollutants lowers the reflectivity of the ice surface, further accelerating the melting of snow and ice.

The melting of glaciers has a series of significant impacts. The influx of meltwater into the oceans contributes to rising sea levels, posing a threat to coastal communities and ecosystems. While this process initially increases river flow, it may eventually lead to a scarcity of freshwater resources. Additionally, the retreat of glaciers disrupts habitats, endangering the survival of numerous plant and animal species. Furthermore, glacier melting can exacerbate extreme weather events, including floods and droughts.

The UN WWD Report stressed that there is an urgent need to significantly reduce carbon emissions. China has also been actively engaged in protecting water resources.

The 38th "China Water Week" takes place from March 22 to 28. Regions across the country are hosting a diverse array of activities to raise public awareness of water conservation and protection.

(Cover via VCG)