UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, 21 March 2025 – On the first-ever World Day for Glaciers, a high-level event was conducted at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The event brought together scientists, policymakers, creatives and campaigners to explore the state of the world’s glaciers and their crucial role in water security, communities and ecosystems.
As an official member of the UN Task Forces coordinating the International Year of Glacier’s Preservation 2025, the Sustainable Mountain Alliance (SMA) was honoured to be part of the event with SMA Board Member Dr. Heidi Sevestre, Glaciologist, Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) engaged throughout the programme. Dr. Sevestre moderated a plenary session on Policy, Advocacy and Campaign that included presentations by Ms Miriam Jackson and Mr James Kirkham, International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI) and Panelists:
- H.E. Mr Julio Cordano, Environment, Climate Change and Ocean, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile
- Ms Izabella Koziell, Deputy Director-General, ICIMOD
- Ms Oriana Romano, Head of Unit Water Governance, OECD
- Mr Børge Ousland, Explorer, Ousland Explorers
- Mr Miguel Angel Ojeda, Executive Committee, European Polar Board
She was also panellist on a high level roundtable on World Water & Glacier Day – moderated by Mr Anil Mishra, Chief of Hydrological Systems, Climate Change and Adaptation Section, UNESCO Water Sciences. During the Event, the UN World Water Development Report 2025 was presented that draws attention to the importance of mountain waters to the downstream societies that depend upon them, with a focus on the impacts of the rapidly changing mountain cryosphere (Earth’s surface covered by water in its solid forms such as glaciers, ice caps, snow, or permanently frozen ground). The Report highlights that:
· 55–60% of global annual freshwater flows supply comes from mountains
· 2 billion people depend on mountain waters to live
· 26-41% of mountain glacier mass is at risk by 2100 with 1.5°C-4°C global warming
During the UNESCO event, SMA co-founder Ingrid Beutler moderated a panel following the screening of DOWNSTREAM, a documentary by Protect Our Winters Europe and icebreaker. Ingrid was joined on stage by:
- Thomas Delfino, French snowboarder and POW ambassador
- Emma Fourreau, Member of the European Parliament
- Larissa van der Laan, climate and glaciology researcher, artist and illustrator
- Fabrice JC Remy, international lawyer and Vice President of Protect Our Winters France
The conversation explored how science, sport, creativity and policy can work together to protect life downstream. Furthermore, SMA’s media partner, Point Nemo, broadcast their documentary ‘The Ice Builder’s’ about the building of ice stupas in Ladakh.
Parallel to the UNESCO event, the SMA also hosted its annual General Assembly, during which Ben Lesage was officially elected to the SMA Board. Ben is Global Coordinator at Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) and passionate about the mountains and the ocean. Expert in technology and innovation, he has worked for the innovation studio of BNP Paribas in San Francisco and is author of the first study dedicated to Ocean Technology startups. Furthermore, the SMA welcomed Dhanesh Kothari as a member of its Strategic Committee bringing with him a wealth of expertise in impact investments and the use of technology to make a positive impact.