Why do we need a World Day for Glaciers?
Why has a World Day for Glaciers been set up for the first time this year, combined with World Water Day, on 20-21 March 2025? Why should BMC members be concerned about global glacier loss and most importantly, what can we do to help?
As a BMC member, you are probably all too aware of the terrifyingly rapid climate change caused by industrialised human life. The unprecedented glacial retreat, unstable rock, soaring temperatures and unpredictable route conditions in popular areas like the Alps, Andes and Himalayas may already be on your radar, especially if you work in the outdoor industry or have booked a mountaineering holiday or expedition.
So prior to the first ever World Day for Glaciers, on 20 March 2025, we’re here with the latest glacier information from Mountain Leader and climate educator Jennifer Stretton, co-founder of Mieux Donner, an organisation that promotes the most effective charities working on climate change.
Jennifer, why do we need a World Glacier Day?
Glaciers are like the canary in the coal mine, warning us of a rapidly warming planet. While climate change can often feel abstract or distant, glaciers provide a stark, visible reminder of what’s happening.
What is happening to the glaciers?
Glaciers worldwide are experiencing unprecedented losses, with 2023 marking the largest mass loss in five decades. Glaciers supply freshwater to over half of humanity, but their rapid retreat is altering water availability and quality downstream, affecting aquatic ecosystems and sectors like agriculture and hydropower. This is accompanied by short-term increases in landslides, avalanches, floods, and droughts, along with a long-term threat to the security of water supplies for billions of people.
How does glacier loss affect BMC members?
The rapid loss of glaciers is already affecting walkers, climbers, and mountaineers. The Alps, for example, are warming about twice as fast as the global average, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). From 2022 to 2023, Swiss glaciers lost 10% of their water volume—an amount equivalent to what melted between 1960 and 1990. Classic routes are becoming too unstable or disappearing altogether. In 1973, renowned alpinist Gaston Rébuffat compiled the 100 finest climbing routes of the Alps. Just over 35 years later, three of these routes have completely collapsed, and a third are now unclimbable in summer due to increased rockfall risks. As permafrost thaws and ice retreats, more routes will be lost, altering the landscapes that generations of climbers have explored.
Why is this all so concerning right now?
The latest scientific data from the IPCC highlights the urgent need to reduce emissions by 43% by 2030. We need to shift the conversation away from simply talking about climate change - people are already aware of the problem - and instead focus on actionable solutions we can all get involved with.
Jennifer’s top resources to find out more:
If you have a business - How to create an ambitious, evidence-based climate action plan that goes beyond greenwashing.
Giving Green’s list of top climate charities to donate to in 2025.
Hannah Ritchie’s book, Not the End of the World: How we can be the first generation to build a sustainable planet, is one of the most inspiring reads on the environmental crisis and what we can do about it that I’ve ever read.
Our World in Data is a gold mine of the latest research on climate change with lots of graphs and visualisations.
How is the BMC responding to glacier loss?
The Climate Project from the BMC’s Access & Conservation Trust (ACT) mitigates the effects of climate change by funding nature-based, carbon loss-avoidance and sequestering projects and providing advice on reducing carbon for individuals and businesses. We have been working with Moors for the Future Partnership to plant carbon-sinking, water-absorbing sphagnum moss in the Peak District peat bogs, and Seagrass Ocean Rescue on carbon-capturing, water-purifying and habitat-enhancing seagrass in North Wales. These projects not only lock in carbon, but also significantly improve habitats, ecosystems and biodiversity in key climbing, hill walking and mountaineering areas.
Help us slow glacier decline with 5 easy actions:
- Donate to The Climate Project FREE using Easyfundraising
- Make your own climate pledge to reduce your impact
- Talk to family and friends about the climate crisis
- Volunteer for a Get Stuck In conservation event
- Donate to The Climate Project from the BMC's ACT
Why join the BMC? BMC Climbing Ambassador Steve McClure explains
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