What To Do for World Water Day 2025
In school, children learn that less than 1% of the Earth’s water is drinkable. They learn about the water cycle and saving water and why water is so important for living beings. Yet as adults, the importance of water takes a backseat. Washing cars and cleaning dishes are such routine parts of life that many of us forget we are working with a precious natural resource.
World Water Day is celebrated on 22 March. On this day, the UN calls out problems with our water economy and suggests ways to address them. World Water Day reminds us that clean drinking water is a human right and we should treat rivers, lakes, and oceans with respect.
This Year’s Theme: Glacier Preservation
We have been celebrating World Water Day since 1993. Every year, UN-Water sets a unique theme for the day – this year, the theme is glacier preservation.
Glaciers are giant bodies of ice that form over hundreds of years. In areas where it snows all year around, temperatures are so low that snow doesn’t melt very quickly. Instead, it piles up and compresses itself until it freezes together and forms a glacier. Nearly 70% of all freshwater on earth is trapped in glaciers.
Why Should We Care About Glaciers in Africa?
Most glaciers are found in Antarctica and the Arctic Circle. However, they also exist at high altitudes worldwide, including three locations in Africa: Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, and the Rwenzori Mountains. These glaciers are just as important for the global weather system as those at the poles.
Because they are so cold, glaciers help to maintain the large temperature difference we see between equatorial regions and the poles. The contrast between very cold and very hot areas on Earth is what makes air circulate around the planet and causes wind and rain. Thus, keeping glaciers alive is very important for agriculture and human survival.
Another reason we need glaciers, especially in Africa, is because of their powers of reflection. Glaciers are bright white and sparkling, so when sunlight hits them, they act like giant mirrors that send excess heat back into space. This helps to keep the planet cool and liveable for everyone.
Finally, glaciers store so much water that if they all suddenly melted, sea levels would rise by 70 meters. Such a rise in sea levels would be disastrous for low-lying areas. Cities like Durban and Gqeberha would be completely consumed while Cape Town would shrink drastically.
Are Glaciers Disappearing?
Glaciers “grow” when snow lands on them and adds to their frozen mass. When there is less snowfall or temperatures are higher than normal, glaciers will “retreat” (i.e: melt and shrink). Glaciers also move around, sliding slowly over mountains as the ice melts and refreezes. This is a natural pattern for glaciers to follow, however, they are now shrinking much faster than they should be.
An international study published in the Nature Scientific Journal found that 5% of the world’s glacial ice disappeared between 2000 and 2023 alone. In State of the Climate 2023, the World Glacier Monitoring Service reported that 99% of alpine glaciers had reduced in size – this is the highest rate of ice loss since 1970.
So yes, many of the world’s glaciers are disappearing. While some shrinkage is normal, the rate at which glaciers – especially those in the Arctic – are melting has increased rapidly in the last 50 years. This is largely because of climate change caused by human activities.
Small Ways to Make a Difference
So, how do we save our glaciers from melting to prevent devastating floods? The answer is much simpler than you think. Greenhouse gases are the main cause of global warming. Reducing our reliance on them will help stabilise air temperatures to keep glaciers frozen.
Here are three easy ways to cut carbon emissions in your life:
- Use less energy – electricity (from coal) contributes to the greenhouse gas effect. Use less electricity at home by drying your clothes in the sun, lowering your geyser temperature or switching to a heat pump, using blankets instead of heaters and fans instead of aircon, using the oven less, and switching to LED light bulbs.
- Burn less fuel – petrol, paraffin, LP gas, wood, and coal create greenhouse gases. Reduce your fuel usage by walking to the shops instead of always driving, taking public transport or catching lifts with colleagues, limiting air travel, and heating your home more selectively. Buying locally-made products also supports less transportation and fuel usage.
- Buy less overall – greenhouse gases are a byproduct of manufacturing, which are exacerbated by today’s high consumption and wastage levels. Live a low-consumption life by buying second-hand, never wasting food, borrowing and renting from others, and repairing instead of replacing.
Let’s Raise Awareness for World Water Day
Making a difference on World Water Day is free – all you have to do is share it on social media using #WorldWaterDay. You can find all the social media templates you need to create your own World Water Day posts here. For teachers, this activation kit is a great resource for planning classroom lessons for World Water Day 2025.
Businesses (and individuals!) can email campaigns@unwater.org to share their World Water Day campaign ideas and get involved in global awareness initiatives. For local information or to find a water-focused NGO near you, please contact eWASA.
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