Kathmandu: International Mountain Day (IMD) is being observed today across the world, including in Nepal, with various programmes highlighting the importance of mountains and the challenges faced by mountain communities. The day is celebrated every year on December 11 following a United Nations call to raise awareness about mountain ecosystems, development issues and emerging opportunities.
This year’s theme, “Glaciers matter for water, food, and livelihoods in mountains and beyond,” underscores the growing concerns over climate change and its impact on glaciers, water systems and sustainable livelihoods. Events such as webinars, photo competitions, social media campaigns and local restoration activities are being organised to mark the occasion.
The UN General Assembly has also declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation to draw global attention to the critical role that glaciers, snow and ice play in the climate system and water cycle, and to the far-reaching consequences of rapid glacial melt.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), glaciers and ice sheets store about 70 percent of the world’s freshwater. Their rapid melting poses severe environmental and humanitarian risks, threatening agriculture, hydropower, clean energy, water security and the livelihoods of billions of people. Scientists warn that shrinking glaciers and thawing permafrost heighten the risks of floods, glacial lake outburst floods, landslides and erosion, putting downstream communities and vital infrastructure at greater danger.
The economic impacts are also significant, affecting sectors such as agriculture, hydropower, mountain tourism and transportation. For many Indigenous Peoples, glaciers hold deep cultural and spiritual value, and their disappearance represents a profound loss of identity and connection with nature.
International Mountain Day has been celebrated annually since 2003, following the recognition of mountain ecosystems in the UN’s 1992 Agenda 21 and the declaration of 2002 as the International Year of Mountains. The day continues to serve as a global platform to highlight the vital role of mountains in sustaining life and the urgent need to protect them.
(RSS)
