Glaciers are vital guardians of our planet's climate system , shaping landscapes and preserving crucial records of Earth's environmental history . Glaciers and snowpack are of greatest importance to water resources and mountain ecosystems at different time scales, and they act as essential components of the global water cycle, also known as ‘water towers’, providing freshwater resources and helping regulate global sea levels. However, these ice formations face unprecedented challenges from climate change . Accelerated glacier retreat threatens water security , increases risks of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) , and ecosystems disruption worldwide. The impacts affect agriculture, hydropower generation, and mountain communities globally.
Chile will commemorate National Glacier Day on Friday, 21 March, as part of the International Year for Glacier Conservation declared by the UN for 2025. This event , supported by UNESCO, aims to raise awareness of the importance of protecting these ice masses. The day will begin with an opening ceremony at the La Moneda Cultural Centre, led by the Minister for the Environment, Maisa Rojas, alongside UNESCO representatives. This will be followed by an expert panel, moderated by the Chilean Glaciers Foundation, which will discuss the significance of glaciers and the challenges involved in their study and conservation. The panel will feature Alexis Segovia Rocha (glaciologist and academic at the University of Chile), Marc Turrel (historian specialising in the human relationship with glaciers), Cecilia Vicuña (artist and winner of the 2023 National Visual Arts Award), Bárbara Hernández (cold-water swimmer), and Alfonso de Urresti (Senator of the Republic). The event will conclude at L...
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