For billions of people, mountain meltwater is essential for drinking water and sanitation, food and energy security, and the integrity of the environment. But today, as the world warms, glaciers are melting faster than ever, making the water cycle more unpredictable and extreme. And because of glacial retreat, floods, droughts, landslides and sea-level rise are intensifying, with devastating consequences for people and nature. The United Nations World Water Development Report 2025: Mountains and glaciers - Water towers offers solutions to help us simultaneously mitigate and adapt to rapid changes in our frozen water resources. This report provides a clear overview of the current state of play and recommends what needs to change. The urgent need to drastically reduce carbon emissions is emphatically repeated. By detailing the connections between mountain fresh water, essential services and the natural world, this publication highlights the critical importance of conserving the cryosphere to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

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