Imagine that glaciers are giants of ice guarding water: colossal, silent, and patient. For centuries, they accumulate snow and transform it into ice, safeguarding enormous reserves of freshwater. When the climate forces them to give way, they release their flow in liquid form, slowly sliding down the mountains to feed rivers and lakes. Essentially, they are the great natural reservoirs that sustain the planet’s water balance.
However, in recent years, these guardians have been in danger. In 2018, the Ayoloco Glacier on Iztaccíhuatl was declared extinct. Similarly, Venezuela’s last glacier, known as Humboldt or La Corona, has shrunk so much that it no longer meets the criteria to be classified as a glacier. These losses are a testament to the impact of climate change and the fragility of these ecosystems.
Although Earth is known as the “Blue Planet,” its water resources face increasing threats. Population growth, the rising demand for water for agriculture and industry, and the adverse effects of climate change are putting the availability of this vital resource at risk. Additionally, the pollution of freshwater sources and the overexploitation of aquifers have intensified the global water crisis, jeopardizing equitable access to this essential resource for life.
According to UN data, 2.2 billion people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water, and 21 million Mexicans do not have daily access to this resource. For this reason, even though 70% of Earth’s surface is covered in water, it is urgent to take measures to conserve it. In the context of a global water crisis, it is essential to develop policies and actions that ensure its availability for future generations and the sustainability of ecosystems.
To raise awareness about the importance of freshwater and promote its conservation and sustainable management, we celebrate World Water Day every March 22. This initiative, driven by the United Nations (UN) since 1993, sets a central theme each year. In 2023, the theme was “Accelerating Change”; in 2024, “Harnessing Water for Peace”; and in 2025, the theme will focus on “Preserving Glaciers.”
The Importance of Preserving Glaciers
Unlike icebergs, glaciers are made up of ice and snow accumulated on the Earth’s surface. Although their movement is slow, their massive size allows them to drag rocks and sediments over time. Approximately 70% of the world’s freshwater is stored in glaciers and ice sheets; however, the rise in global temperatures is accelerating their melting.
These ice bodies play a fundamental role in regulating the water cycle and providing water for human consumption, agriculture, industry, clean energy generation, and ecosystem balance. Additionally, they help regulate the amount of solar radiation absorbed by the Earth. Their reflective surface acts as a mirror, reducing heat absorption and helping maintain the planet’s temperature. The loss of glacial surfaces diminishes this effect, contributing to global warming.
In the face of this crisis, the United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Glacier Conservation, with the goal of promoting protection strategies and global awareness. This initiative focuses on five key areas:
- Strengthening global glacier monitoring systems to improve data collection and analysis.
- Developing early warning systems for dangers related to glacier melting.
- Promoting sustainable water management in regions dependent on glaciers.
- Preserving cultural heritage and traditional knowledge related to glacial ecosystems.
- Engaging new generations in glacier conservation and climate action.
On this World Water Day, we must unite efforts to place glacier preservation at the heart of strategies against climate change and the global water crisis. These ecosystems are evidence of the marvelous properties of water, and protecting them will ensure a better quality of life for future generations.
Water, Essential for Life
Water is one of the most extraordinary substances in the universe; in fact, it forms the very basis of life on Earth. Its unique physicochemical properties make it indispensable for biological processes and ecosystem balance. A molecule as simple as H₂O, composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, presents unusual characteristics that enable life to exist and develop on Earth.
The 5 Anomalous Properties of Water
Life, as we know it, depends on the exceptional properties of water, which set it apart from other liquids and make it the ideal medium for biochemical reactions. Some of these properties include:
- High Heat Capacity and Thermal Regulation
Water can absorb and store large amounts of heat without experiencing drastic temperature changes. This makes it essential for the thermal regulation of living organisms and ecosystems, preventing extreme temperature fluctuations. Additionally, the large amount of energy required to evaporate water—compared to other substances—provides resistance to dehydration and allows cooling processes through transpiration in plants and sweating in animals. - Universal Solvent
The uneven distribution of partial electric charges in a water molecule makes it an excellent solvent. This property allows it to dissolve a wide variety of substances, especially salts, which facilitates nutrient transport and waste removal in living organisms. Due to this dissolving ability, it is rare to find completely pure water in nature. - Surface Tension and Capillarity
Water’s molecular structure allows the formation of hydrogen bonds, creating strong cohesion between its molecules and resulting in high surface tension. This phenomenon makes the water’s surface act like an elastic film, allowing certain organisms, such as water insects, to move across it without sinking. Additionally, water’s ability to interact with other hydrophilic compounds allows it to overcome gravity through capillarity. This process is crucial in biological systems, as it enables water to rise in narrow conduits. In plants, capillarity facilitates the transport of water and dissolved nutrients from the soil to the leaves, ensuring vital functions such as photosynthesis and transpiration. - Expansion Upon Freezing
If temperatures in the poles are so low, why doesn’t the sea freeze completely? Once again, water is extraordinary. Most substances contract, increase in density, and sink when cooled and solidified. However, water behaves exceptionally: as its temperature drops below 4°C and it freezes, it expands. As a result, ice is less dense than liquid water and floats, forming an insulating layer that protects aquatic life in cold climates. - Ideal Medium for Biochemical Reactions
Water provides a stable liquid environment that facilitates the chemical interactions necessary for life. Its chemical stability, fluidity, and ionization ability allow for electrical exchanges between molecules, promoting essential reactions in living organisms. Moreover, its wide range of liquid temperatures, compared to other solvents, makes it an ideal medium for maintaining homeostasis (internal balance) in living beings, even in the face of environmental changes.
In summary, water is an invaluable resource due to its role in nature. The preservation of water and glaciers is not just an environmental issue but a necessity for the survival of ecosystems and human well-being.
Protecting these natural freshwater reserves guarantees climate balance, water security, and sustenance for millions of people. Collective action is key: from the implementation of public policies to environmental education and individual habits of responsible consumption. We still have time to change the course, but every decision counts. The future of water and life on Earth depends on the actions we take today.
For more information about the International Year of Glacier Conservation and to participate in its initiatives, visit: www.un-glaciers.org.
References
- Chaplin, M. F. (2001). Water: its importance to life. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, 29(2), 54-59. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-8175(01)00017-0
- United Nations. (2021, June 5). UN News: Global Outlook Human Stories. https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/06/1492932
- Paredes, N. (2024, May 27). The disappearance of Venezuela’s last glacier is a mirror of what will happen in Colombia and Ecuador. BBC News Mundo. https://www.bbc.com/mundo/articles/cgrrk95jwe6o
- United Nations. (2023, July 4). WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP) – Progress on household drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene 2000-2022: Special focus on gender. https://www.unwater.org/publications/who/unicef-joint-monitoring-program-update-report-2023
- United Nations. (2025). World Water Day 22 March. https://www.un.org/en/observances/water-day
- Westall, F., & Brack, A. (2018). The Importance of Water for Life. Space Science Reviews, 214(2), 50. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-018-0476-7
Author
Guillermo Manuel Chans is a research professor at the Institute for the Future of Education at Tecnológico de Monterrey. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Sciences and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Inorganic Chemistry at the Chemistry Institute of UNAM, where he specialized in the synthesis and characterization of organic and organometallic compounds. He has been a member of the National System of Researchers (SNI). In 2022, he was recognized as a member of the Distinguished Professors Circle at Tecnológico de Monterrey.
