FOR the first time ever, nations across the globe are observing World Glacier Day today (March 21), with the year 2025 having been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation underlining the significance of the issue.

Glaciers form the largest reservoir of freshwater on the planet, providing freshwater to more than two billion people worldwide. Unfortunately, they are, as the Earth warms due to climate change, shrinking at an alarmingly accelerated rate to the detriment of global environment and ecosystem that has put at stake the very survival of the planet, leading to humanitarian crises of high magnitude. A clarion call to action in this regard is, therefore, the order of the day.

The day, coinciding with the World Water Day (March 22), is aimed at working as a wake-up call to the world, given the fact that the Earth has already passed the tipping point in terms of global warming.

While the world community is deeply concerned about climate change due to its potential for devastating global impacts, making it a pressing issue requiring an urgent international action to mitigate its effects, the climate denialism of United States President Donald Trump is as shocking as it is bizarre.

Even the dictum ‘seeing is believing’ has failed to make the man understand the grave reality that the entire world is facing in the shape of disastrous effects of climate change, including rising temperatures, wildfires, droughts and frequent floods, to name a few.

The US has already withdrawn from the Paris Agreement for the second time, describing the global agreement as ‘an unfair, one-sided climate accord rip-off’.

Under the Paris Agreement, nations committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming.

The US withdrawal undermines those efforts and sends a chilling signal to marginalised communities that are dispr- oportionately affected by environmental degradation.

However, as the sayiong goes, there is always a silver lining behind every dark cloud. It is really heartening to note that billionaire entrepreneur Michael Bloomberg’s foundation has stepped in to fund the UN climate change body. This will ensure that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) remains fully funded in the wake of illogical withdrawal from a key climate agreement by the US, which, ironically, happens to be one of the top three greenhouse gas emitters.

It is time now for climate action. Let sanity prevail. The world community must join hands to combat climate change and its multi-layered challenges. Together, we can be climate changers to save the planet.

Khadim Hussain Subhpoto
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2025