United Nations International Year Of Glaciers' Preservation

ACC Recognizes the UN International Year Of Glaciers' Preservation

2025 marks the United Nations’ pivotal International Year of Glacier Preservation—a global initiative to raise awareness about the critical state of the world’s glaciers. The Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) stands committed to amplifying this crucial message, dedicating this digital platform to sharing comprehensive resources, compelling narratives, scientific insights, and educational materials. Through curated content including expert videos, scientific research, interactive timelines, and personal stories, we aim to illuminate the profound significance of glaciers to our planet’s ecological balance and human communities. This hub will serve as a dynamic, evolving resource for members, outdoor enthusiasts, environmental advocates, and anyone passionate about understanding and protecting these magnificent ice formations.

Playlist

5 Videos

Introduction to the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, 2025

3:31

Stay Cool - Part One: What is a Glacier?

41:53

Stay Cool – Part Two: Secrets of the Ice

40:13

Climate 101: Glaciers | National Geographic

4:06

How Do Glaciers Move? TIMELAPSE! | Earth Science

3:47

ACC State of the Mountains Articles

The State of the Mountains Report is a commitment by the ACC to provide accessible, current, and accurate information about the forces that affect Canadian mountain places, ecosystems, and communities.

In 2011, The Alpine Club of Canada published the first State of the Mountains Report, which highlighted the startling impacts of climate change on the alpine environment of Alberta and British Columbia. The 2011 report was motivated by the ACC’s commitment to summarize and better communicate an understanding of the environmental and cultural forces affecting these high places.

2025 United Nations International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation: A Canadian Preview

The United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP) and March 21st as the World Day for Glaciers, to raise awareness of the critical role of glaciers, snow, and ice on local and global climate systems, and to recognize the social and economic impacts that changes will bring.

Read More | En Savoir Plus

Accelerated Change in the Glaciated Environments of Western Canada

In this article, Alexandre Bevington and Brian Menounos summarize recently published research that updates maps of western Canadian glaciers using new automated mapping tools

Read More | En Savoir Plus

Events & News

Learn more about events honouring our world’s glaciers through presentations, exhibits, and talks. The following schedule includes events around the Canadian Rockies, section events throughout Canada and global events hosted by the United Nations and UNESCO and will be updated throughout the year!

Banff Mountain Film & Book Festival - Fire and Ice Symposium Passes now on sale

In honour of International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation and the festival’s 50th anniversary, BMFF is hosting a public Fire & Ice symposium featuring speakers and storytellers who will discuss wildfire and changing ice.

November 1-9, 2025
Banff, AB

Icy Initiative allowing visitors to help monitor glaciers in Canadian parks

Read Rocky Mountain Outlook’s article on new initiatives in Jasper and Glacier national parks, and Bugaboo, Garibaldi, and Mount Robson provincial parks that encourage visitors’ assistance with tracking and recording glacier change.

News article - Aug 20, 2025
Peter Shokeir, Rocky Mountain Outlook

Parks Canada Festival - Glacier Festival

Programs and activities organized by Parks Canada in Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks to recognize the UN International Year of Glaciers. Stay tuned for updates!

July 12-13, 2025
Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks, BC

Switzerland: Moment glacier crashed down Alps and onto village

Read BBC’s article on a glacier collapse that occurred in the Swiss alps in May of this year, partially burrying the town of Blatten.

News article - May 31, 2025
BBC News

COMMENTARY: More needed to protect glaciers, changing climate

Read Bob Sandford’s commentary for the Rocky Mountain Outlook. Sandford discusses the need to protect glaciers and address climate change in light of the recent G7 in Kananaskis, AB in June.

Commentary - July 2, 2025
Bob Sandford, Rocky Mountain Outlook

Feature Resource: Let's Talk Glaciers!

Mountain Studies Researcher and long-time ACC member Mary Sanseverino shares insights and comparison images of Canadian glaciers over time.

Mary Sanseverino shares staggering images of glaciers located in the Canadian Rockies, the Yukon, and on Vancouver Island, and compares historical photos of these glaciers to images taken within the last five years.

As Mary writes: “Glaciers play a critical role in our climate systems, hydrological cycles, and global water resources – to say nothing of how we value them as alpinists! Using repeat photography as muse, the following vignettes suggest a few of the many ways we, as mountaineers, climbers, hikers, skiers, sky-runners – people who love to play, stay, and work in the mountains – might use 2025 to tell our own stories of ice and snow.”

Feature Podcast

This podcast, featuring glacier experts Will Gadd, Mary Sanseverino, Craig Leeson, and Tom Harris, is part of UIAA’s commitment to playing an active role in mountain protection and climate change through activities planned for 2025 and beyond.

From ACC's Blog

Read the latest stories and news focused on the 2025 International Year of Glaciers. All ACC blog posts that relate to glaciers and the UN year of glaciers will be featured here.

ACC + MLP Repeat Photography Challenge

The amazing Mountain Legacy Project collects and compares photos to historic ones taken during surveys in the early 1900s to document the landscape differences over the course of a century. Help bring history into focus with the Mountain Legacy Project by recreating century-old mountain survey photos. If you’re hiking or climbing in one of nine select locations this summer, you can contribute by capturing aligned modern shots. Selected contributors will receive an ACC prize pack and have their images featured at the Summit Shaker this October.

May 21, 2025

Additional Resources

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