Leh, Ladakh I March 23, 2025 – Ladakh marked the inaugural “World Glaciers Day” on March 21, 2025, as part of the United Nations’ International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, spotlighting the region’s rapidly receding glaciers and their profound impact on local communities.
The event, held in the high-altitude desert of northern India, comes amid growing alarm over glacier retreat in Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. Experts report that the region’s approximately 15,000 glaciers are shrinking by an estimated 20 meters in length and 1 meter in depth each year, driven by rising temperatures and declining snowfall. This recession threatens the meltwater supply critical for agriculture, drinking water, and livelihoods in Ladakh, where water scarcity is an escalating concern.
Tashi Gyalson, Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), addressed attendees, urging collective action to safeguard the region’s fragile ecosystem. “Our glaciers are our lifeline. We must protect them for our survival,” he said. The LAHDC highlighted ongoing sustainability efforts, including artificial glaciers, ice stupas, solar energy projects, and organic farming initiatives, aimed at mitigating the crisis.
The observance aligns with global warnings from the United Nations World Water Development Report, which notes a 65% faster glacier melt in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region between 2011 and 2020 compared to the prior decade. Scientists caution that a 1.5–2°C rise in global temperatures could see these glaciers lose 30–50% of their volume by 2100, endangering water security for millions.
Local innovations, such as engineer Sonam Wangchuk’s ice stupas, have offered temporary relief by storing water for dry seasons. However, with tourism straining resources further, experts emphasise the need for broader climate action. The first World Glaciers Day serves as both a call to action and a sobering reminder of the stakes in Ladakh’s melting landscape.