The theme of this year’s World Water Day reminds us of a cold, hard truth: glacier preservation is essential for security, prosperity, and justice.

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Glaciers are nature’s vaults, holding a precious resource: nearly 70 per cent of all freshwater on Earth.

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As glaciers melt, they quench the thirst of communities, sustain ecosystems, and support agriculture, industry, and clean energy. But scorching temperatures are draining these vaults at record speed - from the Himalayas to the Andes, from the Alps to the Arctic.

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Deadly floods are being unleashed, impacting billions of people, in cities and rural areas alike. Low-lying communities and entire countries are facing existential threats, while competition for water and land is aggravating tensions.

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Glaciers may be shrinking, but we cannot shrink from our responsibilities.

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The Pact for the Future, agreed by countries last September, commits countries to ambitious action to protect, restore and sustain the world’s glaciers and strengthen community resilience. I have also appointed a Special Envoy on Water to strengthen international cooperation on the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

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Action this year is critical. Every country must deliver strong national climate action plans – or NDCs - aligned with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

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Funding for climate adaptation and resilience must increase, supported by reform of the international financial architecture to unlock sustained and massive climate finance.

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Together, let’s act to preserve these frozen lifelines for humanity.