UN Declares 2025 International Year of Glacier Preservation, Warns of $4 Trillion Economic Fallout

The world’s glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, putting up to $4 trillion of global GDP at risk. The rapid disappearance of glaciers is not just an environmental disaster—it’s an economic one.

Due to climate change, driven mainly by human activities since the 1800s, these vital resources are rapidly melting, the United Nations reported. This led the UN General Assembly to designate 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation to bring awareness to the importance of glaciers on World Water Day 2025.

According to the UN, “By 2050, the winter tourism sector alone could see losses exceeding $30 billion due to declining snow cover.”

Glaciers provide nearly 70% of the world’s freshwater, supporting agriculture, hydropower, and entire urban populations. According to the UN, as these vital ice reserves shrink, the financial fallout is projected to be catastrophic, which threatens billions of lives and industries worldwide.

In a statement, the UN pointed out that water scarcity could reduce economic productivity by up to 6% in some regions, pushing costs higher and disrupting industries. In South Asia, the loss of glacial water threatens agriculture, exacerbating food price volatility globally. In the U.S., diminishing snowpack in the Columbia River Basin could decimate hydropower generation, costing billions.

The UN added that regions heavily reliant on glaciers—like Peru, Pakistan, and parts of the European Alps—are facing critical water security risks. At the same time, infrastructure and real estate valued in the billions are increasingly exposed to glacier-related hazards such as floods, landslides, and rising sea levels.

With the UN declaring 2025 the International Year of Glacier Preservation, there’s a clear call to action. Financial institutions must embed glacier protection into their risk frameworks and investment strategies. The UN says that by doing so, they can help safeguard global water security, mitigate financial risks, and drive long-term economic resilience.