On March 22, the world observes World Water Day, a United Nations initiative aimed at raising awareness of global freshwater challenges. This year’s theme, Glacier Preservation, underscores the alarming rate of glacial melt and its devastating impact on water security, ecosystems, and livelihoods.
The statistics are staggering
Over 2 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water. One in three schools worldwide does not have a basic water service. In 2021, more than 2 billion people lived in water-stressed countries, a number expected to rise due to climate change and population growth. Diarrheal diseases caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation kill a child under five every two minutes.
Glaciers store nearly 70% of the world’s freshwater, yet their rapid retreat due to rising global temperatures threatens billions. Over the past 20 years, terrestrial water storage—including soil moisture, snow, and ice—has declined at a rate of 1 cm per year, according to the World Meteorological Organization. As a result, water shortages are becoming more severe, particularly in regions dependent on seasonal meltwater for agriculture, drinking supplies, and hydropower.
As glaciers recede, the consequences extend beyond water scarcity. Unstable water supplies lead to prolonged droughts, reduced soil moisture, and groundwater depletion, while excessive melting can trigger floods, landslides, and glacial lake outburst disasters, endangering communities and infrastructure. The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025 ranks natural resource shortages as the fourth biggest risk in the coming decade.
A call for action
With only 0.5% of the Earth’s water being usable and accessible freshwater, urgent measures are needed to protect global water resources. The World Health Organization warns that at current rates, universal access to drinking water won’t be achieved until 2049, requiring historical rates of progress to double.
Solutions exist. Innovative water conservation projects, sustainable water management techniques, and public-private partnerships are crucial in addressing the crisis. Platforms like the World Economic Forum’s UpLink are supporting startups developing scalable water security solutions, while conservation initiatives such as ice stupas and glacial grafting offer sustainable water storage methods in vulnerable regions.
Glaciers may be shrinking, but our commitment to water security must not. The time to act is now.
