UNESCO will celebrate the World Day for Glaciers and the World Water Day at its Headquarters in Paris on 18-19 March 2026, closing the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 and launching the new Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences with dedicated sessions and side events highlighting the vital links between cryosphere, water and gender equality.
Background
The cryosphere, including glaciers, ice sheets, permafrost, sea ice and snow, stores around 70% of Earth’s freshwater, yet it is shrinking fast. Glaciers are losing mass every year; Arctic sea ice has declined by about 40% since 1979; and the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are melting at accelerating rates, with long-term implications for sea level rise. Cryosphere loss already affects water security, ecosystems, infrastructure and disaster risk worldwide.
In response, the United Nations designated 21 March as World Day for Glaciers and proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP 2025), led by UNESCO and World Meteorological Organization. The UN also declared 2025–2034 the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences, led by UNESCO, to strengthen research, monitoring, education and policy action on cryospheric change. In addition, 22 March 2026 marks World Water Day, with a focus on water, women and gender equality.
The 2026 celebrations at UNESCO Headquarters will close the IYGP 2025, present its outcomes, and introduce the first governance and action architecture of the Decade, alongside World Water Day high-level sessions and partner-led side events.
Objectives
- Present the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 outcomes and connect recommendations to the Decade’s workplan.
- Introduce the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences (2025–2034): Strategic priorities, governance structure, working groups, and ways to engage.
- Share initial milestones and planned actions for coordinated delivery and follow-up.
- Convene Member States, UN entities, scientists, artists and partners to strengthen political and scientific commitment around cryosphere, climate, water resilience, risk reduction and gender equality in the water domain.
- Announce and launch of the 2026 UN World Water Development Report, on 19 March 2026, examining the connections between water access and gender equality, assessing progress, and demonstrating how evidence-based policy can drive action for the benefit of all.
Registration
Access is free of charge and open to the public. Online registration is required in advance to access UNESCO Headquarters.