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International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation - launch event

The International Year of Glaciers' Preservation 2025 will commence with an official launch event on 21 January 2025, co-organized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), with support from the governments of Tajikistan and France, at WMO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

Mountains and glaciers

The High-Level Plenary Opening will feature remarks from key figures, including Dr. Ko Barrett, WMO Deputy Secretary-General, and Dr. Lidia Arthur Brito, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences. The session will also introduce the vision for the year and provide updates from various task forces dedicated to global campaigns, research initiatives, and policy advocacy.

Following the plenary, a series of 43 online side events will be accessible globally, facilitating inclusive participation across different time zones. These events aim to raise awareness, stimulate action, and attract funding for glacier preservation efforts.

The launch marks the beginning of a year-long global campaign dedicated to protecting glaciers and addressing the urgent challenges posed by climate change.

The High Level Plenary Opening will be held at 14:00-16:00 (UTC+1/CET), 21 January 2025, in Salle Obasi, WMO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The event will be translated to Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

  • For full joining details for the Opening and of the Side Events programme, click here

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