Whilst not top of mind for those living in warmer environments, the retreat and loss of glaciers around the world are amongst the most visible signs of climate change.
“Glaciers are critical to the water cycle, providing fresh water for downstream communities, and sustaining and shaping many communities over time,” said Australian Water Partnership General Manager Sarah Ransom.
“On World Water Day we acknowledge that reducing the rate of glacier retreat and loss is important, but note this is dependent on wider emissions reduction as part of global mitigation rather than local capacity for action.”
Equally important is the potential impact on water security for the billions of people living in glacial-fed watersheds. This includes partners in South and Southeast Asia.
Despite the term ‘glacier preservation’, specific actions are more associated with responses to the changes in the hydrological flow on downstream communities, along with the changes to ecosystems that are occurring, rather than activities on the glaciers themselves. But it is important to remember that communities will not all be affected in the same way by the loss or change in meltwater flows.
Addressing the impacts across communities
While glacial loss will affect communities throughout a catchment, the intensity of impact will be felt very differently between them. Those communities that are more dependent on local ecosystems for their livelihoods will be more heavily affected than communities that have access to a wider set of resources or are less dependent on local ecosystems for their livelihoods.
Responses to glacial loss by some communities, especially upstream communities, may even have an influence on the effectiveness of actions taken by others. For example, where glacial loss impacts ecosystems, actions taken to manage these impacts near the source can have effects for both upstream and downstream communities. Changes in vegetation cover in upper catchments can impact on base stream flow, peak flows, in-stream sedimentation levels, and the intensity of other impacts. This means that upstream communities’ actions are particularly important.
Responses need to balance the needs of downstream communities against local needs and values of upstream communities, or risk potentially reducing the effectiveness of action both in the short and long term. Resourcing to manage the impact of glacier loss and retreat needs to include activities that will increase meaningful participation and inclusion of the community in decision-making and securing human rights.
Traditional Knowledge is key
Many glaciers are found in Indigenous territories, with many Indigenous communities found in the upper catchments of glacial-fed systems. Approximately 24–28 percent of global terrestrial land area is found in Indigenous territories, including significant mountainous areas. Glacier preservation, or effective responses to glacier retreat or loss, is dependent on the better inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in the decision-making process, as well as more appropriate inclusion of Traditional Knowledge.
Indigenous knowledge is critical for better managing or guiding ecosystem change in these areas that will affect the intensity or direction of hydrological changes. Similarly, there needs to be more attention paid to the values held by the different communities in determining what is important.
Such engagement needs to be meaningful and not simply a case of appropriating Traditional Knowledge.
Taking action to support adaptation
So what are the responses that external partners need to take to ensure that participation is meaningful and that the goals of glacier preservation can be met?
“It means better understanding, supporting and empowering communities, including Indigenous communities, to address their needs,” says Ms Ransom.
“It means treating Indigenous knowledge as equally important in decision-making. It means providing resources that enable the Indigenous community to participate as full partners in action, including leadership.”
It also means opening up the opportunity for Indigenous-led programs of action, like those emerging in the biodiversity sector.
Finally, there should be more opportunities for Indigenous Peoples to share their knowledge about how they are responding to their local changes and the lessons learnt with each other directly, and to have opportunities to engage with the western scientific community where traditional knowledge is respected and valued.
The Australian Water Partnership has been proud to support one such opportunity, at the annual Stockholm World Water Week. Building on First Nations-led efforts of the last few years and a strong First Nations Focus in 2024, these critical opportunities for knowledge exchange are expected to be carried through to 2025 and beyond.
Featured image: Andean Glacier in Bolivia. Credit: Julie Larsen Maher