On March 22, we celebrate the International Water Day. On this occasion, the UN Water and UNESCO just published the UN World Water Development Report 2025, under the theme Mountains and Glaciers: Water towers.
Often absent from global agendas, mountains and alpine glaciers – or the world’s ‘water towers’ – are increasingly vulnerable to climate change and human activities, while they are essential services and benefits providers to societies, economies and the environment.
The UN World Water Development Report 2025 highlights that Mountains supply 55–60% of global annual freshwater flows. And that the world’s main rivers depend on mountain waters for their flows. Did you know about this?
In addition, the report highlights:
– Global freshwater withdrawals increased by 14% during 2000-2021 and 25 countries, representing one-quarter of the world’s population, face ‘extremely high’ water stress every year.
– The global expansion of water-dependent industries will likely increase industrial water use in mountain areas.
– Circular economy promoting water-use reduction, recycling of used water and reuse of water resources are some of the responses available to make industry and energy production water-smart.
– In Europe, it is expected that annual river discharge where the runoff from the ice-covered part will decrease by 35% by 2100 relative to 2006.
In Europe, the Alps, which span eight countries, are vital for the ecosystems, biodiversity and healthy water resources, in addition to feeding four major rivers: Danube, Po, Rhine and Rhône. The role of the Alps and the hazards it faces are highlighted by Laurent Horvath, Water Delegate from the Canton Valais, Switzerland:
In Europe’s Alpine areas, the water challenges are becoming more and more numerous as temperatures rise more rapidly in this region.
Today in Valais, Switzerland, most glacier meltwater is collected by dams to generate electricity.
However, the faster the ice melts, the more water it generates and exceeds the levels of previous decades. These changes are forcing us to rethink and imagine the new function of the dams.
In Valais, dam concessions are signed for a period of 80 years. Whereas they were once limited to generating only electricity, in the future the dams will be also used to store drinking water, irrigation water, water for forest fires, water for tourism, industry and biotopes. In addition, the dams help to contain the mega rains and reduce the floodings.
What will be the future without glaciers? This story has to be written. At the moment, we must create ways to adapt.
Bridging gaps in data collection, fostering holistic policy integration from biophysical data to socio-economic data, and leveraging local and regional transboundary cooperation are vital to addressing complex governance challenges and socio-ecological systems in mountain regions.
See here the full report and executive summary.
