UN Warns Glacier Melt Threatens Water Supply for 2 Billion

The UN World Water Development Report 2025 highlights the critical role of mountains in providing up to 60% of the world’s freshwater, emphasizing that over one billion people rely on mountainous regions for their water supply, sanitation, and livelihoods. The report warns that glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, with significant implications for food security, particularly in developing countries where nearly half of rural mountain dwellers already face food insecurity. The World Meteorological Organization confirmed that the last three years have seen the largest glacier mass loss on record, exacerbating the risk of freshwater shortages and contributing to global sea-level rise. Additionally, the melting glaciers threaten the stability of mountain landscapes, increasing the likelihood of avalanches and glacial lake outburst floods. As global temperatures rise, the melting glaciers will impact agricultural regions far beyond mountain ranges, affecting two-thirds of irrigated agriculture worldwide. The situation calls for urgent action to safeguard these vital water towers and the communities that depend on them.