The United Nations on glacier preservation, the theme of this year's World Water Day

Happy World Water Day! The United Nations has declared glacier preservation as this year's theme and uploaded The Secret Life of Glaciers | World Water Day 2025 last month to support it.

Glaciers are more than just giant ice formations—they are dynamic forces of nature that shape our planet and hold the key to our freshwater future. But how do they form? What kinds of glaciers exist around the world? And how is climate change impacting them?

In this video, we take you on a journey through the life cycle of a glacier, from snowflakes to massive ice sheets. You'll discover the different types of glaciers, how they move, and why they are so crucial to Earth's water supply.

Did you know? Glaciers store about 70% of the world’s fresh water! As they melt, they feed rivers and supply drinking water to millions. But with rising global temperatures, many glaciers are shrinking at alarming rates.

Join us as we explore these frozen giants and learn how they connect to our climate, water, and future.

I just finished lecturing on glaciers in my geology classes this week and I could have used this video, as it covers the weakest part of my lecture. Darn. I can still add it to the slideshow and show it for the next four semesters. If so, welcome to blogging as professional development.

Speaking of professional development, glaciers storing "about 70% of the world’s fresh water" differs from the statistic I've been telling my students for years, which is 79%. I included a pie chart showing that last year. Pacific Water displays a pie chart more consistent with glaciers and ice caps having 70% of the planet's fresh water.


Looks like I'll have to research the reason for the discrepancy. If it's because that much of the planet's glaciers have melted, then the situation has indeed become worse since Chasing Ice.

Follow over the jump for two more videos from the United Nations, specifically UNESCO.

Not only is today World Water Day, yesterday was the first World Day for Glaciers and 2025 is the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. Both of those have been in the works since 2022, as UNESCO explained in Introduction to the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, 2025.

This video highlights the key elements of the UN Resolution that establishes the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 and the World Day for Glaciers on 21 March from 2025 onwards.

That was last year. UNESCO followed up this week with Launch of United Nations World Water Development Report 2025.

With over 2 billion people depending on glacier and snowmelt for freshwater—and projections showing that one-third of glacier sites could disappear by 2050—raising awareness and taking action to protect these vital ecosystems is urgent.

It is in this context and to celebrate World Day for Glaciers (21 March) and World Water Day (22 March) that UNESCO and partners are launching the 2025 edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report Mountains and Glaciers: Water Towers, which highlights the importance of mountain waters for the Planet.

Glaciers as the water towers for the world — I like that and plan on using it! Again, welcome to blogging as professional development.

This concludes today's holiday observance. Stay tuned for the Marche du Nain Rouge tomorrow instead of the usual Sunday entertainment feature.