Qu Dongyu, the Director-General of FAO, delivered a worrying address, stating that the rapid melting of glaciers worldwide threatens the sustainability of agriculture and access to clean water for humanity. According to him, residents of regions from the Andes to the Himalayas are already experiencing the consequences of reduced snow cover and unstable water supply. For example, Peru is witnessing a sharp decline in crop yields, while in Pakistan, traditional planting schedules are disrupted.
Glaciers serve as a source of drinking water for nearly two billion people and feed the largest rivers on the planet, such as the Indus, Nile, Ganges, and Colorado. Over the past six years, five of them have set records for the speed of ice retreat. Qu Dongyu noted that in the future, many glaciers will reach a "peak flow," after which there will be a prolonged water shortage, exacerbated by population growth. The disappearance of ice masses brings not only economic consequences but also cultural ones: melting destroys sacred sites and centuries-old customs of indigenous peoples.
Although the situation can still be changed, significant changes in global policy and investment are necessary. The UN has declared 2025 as the International Year for Glacier Preservation to draw attention to the protection of these ecosystems. FAO emphasizes the importance of applying adaptive agricultural methods, such as terraced farming, agroforestry, and crop diversity. A key step should be the development of water infrastructure and strengthening cooperation between countries, as rivers fed by glaciers often cross borders.
Examples of successful adaptation include innovative projects. For instance, in Kyrgyzstan, FAO is assisting experts in creating artificial glaciers—ice structures formed by spraying water from mountain rivers. In the Batken region, this initiative has managed to preserve over 1.5 million cubic meters of ice, allowing for the irrigation of 1,750 hectares. Similar methods are being used in India, and in the Peruvian Andes, local communities are using natural plant filters to purify water contaminated with minerals due to glacier melting.
Nevertheless, Qu Dongyu emphasized that the efforts of individual countries are insufficient. Water is a resource that directly depends on the state of glaciers, and ignoring their disappearance could lead to serious consequences for global security. The International Year for Glacier Preservation in 2025, in collaboration with UNESCO and WMO, aims to unite the efforts of the global community to protect these vital resources.
