Mountain water is vital for ecosystems, providing drinking water supply and human activities. In recent years, the water resources from the mountains have literally been melting away. Mountains and alpine glaciers, which ensure freshwater for over 1.9 billion people, are threatened due to climate change and unsustainable human activities, warns the latest World Water Development Report, published by the UN. But this isn’t just a problem about water. It’s about food, energy, and migration across Central Asia, South America, the Andes, and the Himalayas. What solutions do experts foresee that will be able to deal with this crisis? Check out some of their opinions below and let the community know your own opinion on DevelopmentAid social media channels.
Key Takeaways:
- Glaciers are melting at a record speed losing 9,000 gigatons of ice since 1975, with the most dramatic losses happening over the last three years.
- Protecting glaciers is about more than just protecting water; it’s about preserving crops, ensuring food security, and preventing forced migration.
- According to experts, to protect the cryosphere, global governance must be strengthened through binding international agreements, transboundary water management bodies, and innovative financing mechanisms.
- Integrating indigenous knowledge and community-led adaptations is crucial. This means empowering local communities in decision-making, valuing traditional water management practices, and blending local wisdom with modern science.
DevelopmentAid: What global governance and financing mechanisms are needed to protect the cryosphere and ensure sustainable water access for almost 2 billion people who are dependent on glacier-fed systems?
“To protect the cryosphere and ensure sustainable water access, we need a coordinated global framework under the UN that integrates climate finance, transboundary water governance, and local capacity-building. Mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund must prioritize glacier-fed regions, enabling technology transfer, resilient infrastructure, and data-sharing platforms across borders. Regional cooperation bodies such as the ICIMOD for the Himalayas should be strengthened to develop basin-level agreements for shared resource management. Additionally, water diplomacy and targeted debt-for-climate swaps can help developing countries to invest in glacier protection and sustainable hydropower systems.”
“To protect the cryosphere, global governance must establish a legally binding International Glacier Protection Agreement, similar to the Paris Agreement, focusing on the glaciers and snowpacks that provide freshwater to over 1.9 billion people (UNESCO, 2025). Financing mechanisms should include a Global Glacier Protection Fund under the UN Water or the Green Climate Fund, with an annual allocation of at least US$1 billion, targeting climate-resilient water infrastructure, glacial monitoring, and transboundary water management (World Bank, 2023). For example, the Hindu Kush Himalaya region alone supports 240 million mountain dwellers and 1.65 billion downstream (ICIMOD, 2022), and Central Asian glaciers have shrunk by 30% since the 1960s (World Bank, 2023). Debt-for-nature swaps, such as those implemented in the Seychelles and Belize, can incentivize governments to invest in glacier conservation. Strengthening regional platforms like HIMAP and CAWEP is essential to harmonize policies, ensure data sharing, and integrate climate mitigation with sustainable livelihoods, food security, and hydropower generation for the 400 million people in the Andes and Himalayas who are reliant on glacier-fed hydropower (IPCC, 2022).”
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“The 2025 World Water Development Report highlights the water crisis resulting from melting glaciers, threatening 1.9 billion people. To protect the cryosphere and ensure sustainable water access, global governance must be strengthened through binding international agreements, the establishment of transboundary water management bodies, and innovative financing mechanisms like green bonds or dedicated climate adaptation funds. This funding should support sustainable water infrastructure and research.”
“To address the crisis of melting glaciers, global governance must prioritize multilateral cooperation through legally binding frameworks under the UN, such as expanding the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses. Financially, increased climate financing from instruments like the Green Climate Fund and global carbon taxes should be allocated to glacier-dependent regions to establish resilient water infrastructure, early warning systems, and sustainable hydropower alternatives. Economically, shrinking water supplies threaten agriculture, energy, and tourism, particularly in high-mountain economies. Population growth compounds the stress on limited resources, demanding integrated basin-level management.”
“Today, the accelerated melting of glaciers is forcing us to rethink water governance on a global scale. It is essential to establish an international coordination framework – perhaps under the auspices of the United Nations – to monitor changes in the cryosphere, mobilize stable financing (Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund), and encourage the countries concerned to adopt integrated management policies. Strong transboundary agreements, based on trust and transparency, will be necessary to avoid tensions related to water sharing. But action at the institutional level is not enough; indigenous knowledge, often overlooked, offers valuable keys to understanding local dynamics and adapting effectively. This knowledge, combined with science, can inspire sustainable solutions, such as groundwater recharge, meltwater harvesting, or traditional irrigation techniques. It is time to support the frontline communities that are often overlooked in major climate strategies. Protecting glaciers is about more than just protecting water; it’s about preserving crops, ensuring food security, and preventing forced migration. It’s a matter of climate justice, human solidarity, and collective survival.”
“Ukraine faces a dual water crisis: climate change threatening its “water towers” such as Carpathian snowpacks, and the ongoing war damage to critical infrastructure. Addressing both requires immediate action and long-term planning, supported by robust international cooperation. UN agencies (UNICEF, WHO, IOM) and NGOs are already providing emergency water access through repairs, purification systems, and hygiene kits while coordinating Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene efforts. A dedicated fund combining international aid, donor contributions, and potential war reparations could finance vital projects, prioritizing rapid response in volatile conditions. Local communities, especially those on frontlines and in liberated territories, possess invaluable survival experience. Their innovative solutions, supported by organizations like United Help Ukraine, WeWorld, and IsraAID, must inform water management strategies through decentralized, participatory decision-making. Key priorities include ensuring water access for all citizens, including internally displaced persons and those in occupied territories. International expertise is essential for de-mining water sources and providing technical assistance for the long-term monitoring and protection of Ukraine’s water systems. Success depends on integrating immediate humanitarian needs with sustainable reconstruction planning, leveraging the on-ground presence and technical capabilities of international partners to navigate the complexities of rebuilding during active conflict.”
DevelopmentAid: How can the international community integrate indigenous knowledge and community-led adaptation into water security strategies in melting glacier regions, while also addressing cross-border risks?
“Indigenous communities in glacier regions possess centuries-old knowledge on water cycles, land use, and resilience. Their inclusion in policy-making ensures more grounded and adaptive strategies. For example, Peru’s Quechua traditions or the Ladakhi water-sharing systems in India offer scalable models for community-led water governance. Governments must formally recognize these practices and integrate them with scientific tools through co-managed adaptation plans. Cross-border risks such as glacial lake outburst floods require regional early warning systems, shared risk maps, and joint emergency protocols that are anchored in both local and international expertise.”
“Integrating indigenous knowledge requires recognizing local communities as equal stakeholders in adaptation planning. For instance, the Quechua communities in the Andes have used traditional water harvesting (amunas) for over 1,000 years to manage glacier meltwater (UNDP, 2021). Governments should fund community-led glacier monitoring, incorporating traditional indicators such as plant cycles and river behavior. Establishing Transboundary Indigenous Councils will enable communities across Central Asia, the Andes, and the Himalayas to share practices and coordinate strategies, addressing the risks affecting over 750 million people across borders (World Bank, 2023). Additionally, integrating glacier-fed irrigation systems, local afforestation, and seasonal migration patterns into national adaptation plans ensures cultural alignment and sustainability. For example, Nepal’s Community Forestry Program manages 1.8 million hectares through indigenous stewardship (FAO, 2021), enhancing water retention and ecosystem resilience. Embedding these practices into regional treaties and climate finance frameworks ensures water security solutions that are scientifically robust, culturally rooted, and socially equitable for glacier-dependent populations.”
“Integrating indigenous knowledge and community-led adaptations is crucial. This means empowering local communities in decision-making, valuing traditional water management practices, and blending local wisdom with modern science. Addressing transboundary risks requires continuous dialogue, data sharing, and equitable water-sharing agreements among nations. This holistic approach will ensure water security amidst climate change.”
“Integrating indigenous knowledge is vital. Local communities possess centuries-old insights into glacier behavior and water use. Empowering them through participatory governance, co-designed monitoring systems, and secure land rights will strengthen adaptation. Cross-border risks, especially in Central Asia and the Himalayas, necessitate regional water diplomacy platforms that include indigenous voices, ensure equitable water sharing, and prevent conflict. Climate-smart agriculture, alternative livelihoods, and education investments are essential to both preserve cultural heritage and reduce the pressure on fragile ecosystems.”
See also: The potential of debt-for-nature swaps in the developing countries | Experts’ Opinions
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