In 2025, the global community reaches a decisive moment in addressing climate change. Ten years after the Paris Agreement, societies face the urgent challenge of turning ambition into science-based action. Water is central to this effort. As the “climate connector,” it links climate adaptation, sustainable development, and disaster risk reduction.

Glaciers are retreating, snow cover is shrinking, permafrost is thawing, and sea levels are rising. These shifts threaten food and water security, intensify disaster risks, and undermine access to freshwater. The cryosphere—Earth’s frozen water systems—is a visible warning of climate change, and its preservation is vital for ecosystems and communities worldwide.

UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) operates at the intersection of climate science, water governance, and resilience. In 2025, two global milestones converge under UNESCO’s leadership. The International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP 2025), co-led with the World Meteorological Organization, raises awareness of glaciers as sentinels of climate change. Building on this, the UN General Assembly entrusted UNESCO with coordinating the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences (2025–2034), a framework to mobilize science, cooperation, and policy for the cryosphere.

This event will also present CRIDA (Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis), a method that helps countries make resilient choices under climate uncertainty. It will present complementary efforts across the Natural Sciences Sector: MAB’s biosphere reserves as living laboratories for adaptation and biodiversity conservation, WWAP’s global water reports informing policy, LINKS’ integration of Indigenous and local knowledge into decision-making, and the SIDS programme supporting island nations on the frontlines of sea-level rise.

Join UNESCO to explore how scientific knowledge can guide resilient pathways for societies facing climate and cryosphere change.

Speaker:

• Ms Ruth Nguma, Associate Programme Specialist, UNESCO IHP

Moderator:

• Mr Abou Amani, Director UNESCO Water Sciences Division 

Registration is mandatory and subject to availability.