New York, 21 March 2025; speaking to the reporters; Bhanu Neupane highlighted the importance of mountains:
- Mountains are not just landscapes. They are the lifeline of our planet.
- Mountains as the world’s water tower, acting as a source of fresh water. This is to explain how mountains store water in the form of ice and snow during cold seasons and releasing it during warmer seasons as major source of fresh water for users downstream.
- Mountains play a unique and critical role in the global water cycle by affecting the atmospheric circulation which drives weather and its precipitation patterns.
- This explanation shows the importance of mountain waters, including glaciers, which are vital for meeting basic human needs in the forms of water supply and sanitation. On top of this, water is also essential for ensuring food and energy security for billions of people living in and around mountain regions including downstream areas, not to mention the role of supporting economic growth through various reliant industries.
This report confirms:
- Solutions for water do exist.
- Reiterate the investment for better water monitoring and management is a must by strengthening international cooperation. Importantly, in bringing a new era of multilateral and multi-stakeholder collaborations.
- There should be no more delays; as climate change is accelerating water crisis with consequences in costing lives.
- The time to act is now.
Related link:
The UN World Water Development Report 2025 – Mountain and Glaciers: Water Towers” | UNESCO
World Water Development Report – Press Conference | United Nations
