Over the last few days, numerous experts gathered from all over the world at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris for World Water Day. This year’s celebrations were namely dedicated to glaciers, which cover about 700,000 km² of the Earth’s surface and whose rapid melting threatens environmental stability, water security, agriculture and hydropower production.
As confirmed by recent scientific studies, alpine glaciers have lost about 30% of their global volume over the last 20 years. Without immediate action, one third of their present surface could vanish by 2050, jeopardizing the future of entire ecosystems and communities, with dire consequences for life on Earth.
A strong call for strengthening the shared commitment to protect glaciers and adopt concrete measures for water security emerged from the event, which spanned from March 20 to March 21.
It is in this context that the 2025 Edition of the UN World Water Development Report was presented – a yearly report issued by UNESCO’s World Water Assessment Programme, which has been hosted and financed by Italy since 2007.
Furthermore, the UN Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences (2025-2034) was also inaugurated, which aims at tackling the growing challenges linked to melting glaciers through enhanced scientific research and climate action on a global scale.
Italy played a leading role during these two important days with a side event entitled “Earth’s Memory” – an ambitious project curated by Italian photographer Fabiano Ventura, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and under the patronage of UNESCO. By comparing historical and contemporary photos of glaciers from different locations (the Alps, the Caucasus, Karakorum, the Himalayas and Alaska), the exhibition provides unquestionable visual evidence of the impact of the climate crisis, with glaciers which were once extensive and majestic and are now greatly reduced in size.
During his speech, the Permanent Delegate of Italy to UNESCO, Ambassador Liborio Stellino, underlined our government’s commitment to tackle these global challenges: “Italy is at the forefront in supporting UNESCO’s activities in the field of hydrological sciences and shares the message that emerges strongly today: collective action is key to contrast climate change and preserve natural resources for futures generations, ensuring sustainable development”.
