Earlier this year, the UN declared 2025 as the ”International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation.”
On Jan. 21, 2025, the United Nations (UN) officially launched 2025 as the ”International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation,” an initiative to raise awareness of the vital role of glaciers, snow and ice in the climate system and water cycle, as well as the impacts of rapid glacial melt. The International Skating Union (ISU) has now announced its full support for this important initiative.
This commitment aligns with the ISU Vision 2030 and the organization’s Sustainability Strategy 2023-2030. In November 2024, the ISU introduced its Sustainability Guidelines, a framework to promote good practices, responsible behavior and innovation across all ISU events. A central focus of ISU’s efforts is indeed water conservation, recognizing glaciers as a key source of the planet’s freshwater.
Glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates due to climate change. This process has contributed to a 23cm rise in sea levels since 1990, endangering ecosystems and reshaping landscapes, including in regions where ice skating first gained popularity.
2025 will also have the first “World Day for Glaciers” on March 21, also proclaimed by the UN. This global day is meant to celebrate the crucial relevance of glaciers, snow and ice in the hydrological cycle.
The ISU previously joined the Sports for Nature Framework in 2023, a joint initiative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), International Olympic Committee (IOC), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy that aims to deliver transformative action for nature across sports.
