Following several meetings with future hosts and organizers, the UIAA has revised the schedule for its General Assemblies (GAs) from 2026 to 2028.
The 2026 UIAA General Assembly was scheduled to be held in Colorado, U.S.A. However, the UIAA and the American Alpine Club (AAC) have come to a mutual decision to postpone the hosting of the event. This is in response to the current visa and entry restrictions, which may prevent several UIAA member associations from attending the event. The AAC remains committed to hosting a UIAA General Assembly, with the intention that the 2028 GA will be held in the United States.
The decision to reschedule the event has been made now, as hosting a GA requires significant time, resources, and commitment from both event hosts and the UIAA.
The 2026 GA will now take place in Nepal, hosted by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). It will be the first time since 2011 that the GA visits the Himalaya region. The UIAA thanks the NMA for their willingness to host. Further details on the location and programme will be communicated in due course.
The 2027 UIAA GA will be held as planned in Santiago, Chile, and organized by Federación de Andinismo de Chile (FEACH).
As a reminder, the 2025 UIAA General Assembly will be held in Peja, Kosovo from 23-25 October. The calling notice will be released on 24 July. A draft programme can be viewed here.
For any further information, please contact the UIAA Office.
May proved to be a productive month in terms of international climbing and mountaineering meetings both organised and attended by the UIAA.
Below are reports from the UIAA spring meeting (as well as from an online meeting for UIAA member associations) and from two events attended by UIAA delegates: the annual General Assembly of European Mountaineering Association (EUMA) and the annual Technical Meeting of International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA-UIAGM-IVBV).
UIAA Management Board meetings. Held in Bern, Switzerland and online
The annual UIAA ‘spring meetings’ took place from 9-10 May with delegates attending both at the UIAA HQ in Bern, Switzerland and joining online. The first day was dedicated to reports from the UIAA’s nine Commissions and followed the next day by the main Management Board session.
Commission Reports and Projects
Each Commission shared updates on their current projects:
Anti-Doping (Dr Marija Andjelkovic): Having recently delivered doping controls as part of the UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour, the focus is firmly on maintaining compliance with WADA regulations and expanding education programmes.
Legal Affairs (Klara Dvorakova): The number of entries in the database of mountaineering and climbing accidents case laws continues to augment. The LAC is also supporting other UIAA commissions with subjects related to governance and compliance.
Medical (Urs Hefti): In January, the Medical Commission spearheaded the drafting of a UIAA statement on xenon gas use in high-altitude mountaineering. A MedCom Working Group continues to deliver papers dedicated to some of the world’s major summits. The latest publication focused on Everest. MedCom is currently involved in discussions on how best it can actively participate in a very large international conference on high altitude medicine which will take place in the UK in spring 2026. A revision to the paper dedicated to children is due later in 2025.
Mountaineering (Greg Moseley): Following the publication of the seminal UIAA Declaration on Hiking, Climbing and Mountaineering, MountCom has focused on creating working groups (WGs) dedicated to two key strategic priorities – hiking and rock climbing – with a further working group dedicated to access ready to launch. The Commission is also looking at how best to revive both an Expeditions WG and the Mountain Worker Initiative. Furthermore, the Accident Data Reporting WG continues to make progress on developing best practice case studies following the soft launch of its database of reporting systems late last year.
Safety (Lionel Kiener): SafeCom recently celebrated its 50th anniversary at a major event in Chamonix which included the Commission’s annual plenary and internal meetings, public conferences and dedicated workshops. Highlights included the approval for the publication of two new standards (Static Ropes and Via Ferrata construction) and amendments to several other Standards. Further details to follow shortly.
Training (Steve Long): Following a successful workshop held in Malta following last year’s General Assembly, planning continues for a similar session this year to coincide with the UIAA GA in Kosovo. The revised UIAA Alpine Handbook has been printed in English with the digital version to be available for purchase from June 2025. The Training Commission, represented by Steve Long, was invited as a keynote speaker at a recent international conference on Adventure Tourism held in the United Arab Emirates and organised by UIAA associate member The Fujairah Adventures Center.
Youth (Jane Carney, VP): The Youth Commission continues to work on defining and developing a structure for global youth events under the UIAA umbrella. Focus is on improving registration systems for events, developing course programmes and enhancing the voice of youth in the Commission structure.
Commission Member (CM) regulation revisions were reviewed, including issues of nominee endorsement, hybrid meeting policies, and voting rights. These will be further vetted by the Legal Affairs Commission.
UIAA Management Board Executive Meeting The UIAA Management Board (MB) convened for its Executive Session the following day. The main topics included a review strategic developments and governance matters.
World Ice Climbing Board Strategy The WIC Board, led by JoAnne Carilli-Stevenson, presented an extensive update on the progress of the Board since its formation at the UIAA GA in October, including its 2025-2026 budget and strategic roadmap through 2030. The dual-path strategy considers both Olympic Winter Games inclusion in 2030 or continued independent development. Priorities, to be led by different for Committees, include rulebook revision, athlete safeguarding, funding models, federation engagement, and improved media strategy.
The provisional calendar for the 2025-2026 UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour will be published by late June. The UIAA WIC Board continues to welcome interest from potential sponsors and partners.
EC Working Groups, Governance and Membership Progress reports were given on various EC Working Groups. The Finance and Audit WG has put together a proposal to update membership fee models. This will be an agenda item at the GA in Kosovo.
Financial forecasts were presented showing a manageable deficit for Q1 2025. Budget planning for 2026 is underway and closely linked to strategic priorities. The 2024 financial results were approved and recommended to the GA.
Membership updates included recommendations to approve full and associate memberships for new applicants from Congo and North Macedonia. The UIAA’s global reach is expanding, with mentorship pilots planned to support federations in areas not yet represented by the UIAA.
Annual Report and Communication The new online platform for the UIAA Annual Report was presented. The Annual Report for 2024 will be the first fully digital report, allowing for greater integration with the UIAA website as well as video and imagery. In terms of content, the 2024 Annual Report focuses more closely on annual achievements, commission highlights and aligned with strategic priorities. Publication is scheduled for late June.
The UIAA has recently concluded an outreach campaign to all member associations which included the sharing of a digital toolkit, links to key assets including details of member benefits.
Climate and Environmental Action A report was provided by the Climate Change Task Force (CCTF), whose remit is currently focused on engaging federations and commissions with clear objectives. Activities, in addition to what is covered in the MPC report detailed above, include webinars, a summit, and a new climate ambassador programme.
UIAA Online Meeting for Member Associations
Two weeks after the UIAA spring meetings, an online update was held for UIAA member associations. The topics covered above, including Commission reports, progress made by the UIAA since last year’s General Assembly and decisions taken at the MB meeting, were presented to attending members.
General Assembly of European Mountaineering Association (EUMA)
UIAA Executive Committee member Simon Alden addressing delegates at the 2025 EUMA General Assembly. Photo credit: EUMA
The 2025 General Assembly of EUMA was held from 16-18 May in Bohinj, Slovenia and was hosted by the Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS). The event gathered 50 participants, including 24 of EUMA’s 30 full members, making it a strong and representative meeting of the European mountaineering community.
The UIAA was represented by Executive Committee member Simon Alden. His message was one of support and encouraging further collaboration between the UIAA and EUMA on specific projects. A report from EUMA can be found here.
IFMGA Annual Technical Meeting
Philippe Quintart, UIAA Office, provides an overview of the UIAA SafeCom activities at the annual IFMGA Technical Meeting. Photo credit: UIAA/Andre von Rotz
In late May, the UIAA, through CEO Andre von Rotz and Mountain Safety Project Manager Philippe Quintart attended the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA-UIAGM-IVBV) Technical Meeting in Arco, Italy. This significant gathering brought together technical directors and experts from the 28 IFMGA member associations worldwide as well as guests for five days of intensive professional development, knowledge exchange, and international collaboration.
The Spring Technical Meeting serves as a cornerstone of international mountain guiding standards, providing a crucial platform where technical directors can exchange information and engage in conversations about the evolution of the mountain guides profession. This annual gathering aims to build increasingly higher standards for mountain guide training worldwide.
“It was important for the UIAA to be present in Arco. Cooperation between likeminded bodies will contribute positively to safety in mountain sports in the coming months and years,” explained von Rotz.
The meeting came just weeks after the UIAA Safety Commission’s highly successful series of meetings in Chamonix, France. A number of notable steps to strengthen synergy between the UIAA and IFMGA were taken at the meeting.
This included the appointment of Alessandro Bellini as IFMGA delegate to the UIAA Safety Commission; IFMGA were invited to contribute to the UIAA’s Mountain Sport Symposium to be held as part of the UIAA General Assembly in Kosovo in October; technical directors from IFMGA were encouraged to join UIAA SafeCom working groups while the UIAA SafeCom reiterated its availability to support testing and research on guiding related safety topics.
The 2025 UIAA General Assembly will be held in Peja, Kosovo from 23-26 October and concludes with a Mountain Sports Symposium. Further details will be available in due course.
The UIAA Safety Commission marks fifty years of its existence in 2025 and has organised a series of events from 13-17 April to mark the occasion.
In 1975, the UIAA combined two existing entities – the Ropes and Belaying Methods Commissions – to create what is now commonly referred to as SafeCom. Throughout the past fifty years, SafeCom has spearheaded the research and delivery of a vast number of international safety standards for climbing and mountaineering equipment from static ropes to avalanche rescue shovels, from carabiners to harnesses.
The alumni of former SafeCom members, representatives and Presidents is impressive. A number of legendary climbers and mountaineers as well as pioneers in safety techniques have formed part of the Commission. These include Vitaly Abalakov, Yvon Chouinard, Reinhold Messner, Werner Munter, Karl Prusik, Pit Schubert and Jean-Franck Charlet.
To mark its fifty years, SafeCom has created a programme of events around its annual spring meeting. Significantly, it will all take place in Chamonix, France, the very location where the UIAA was founded in 1932. In addition to its plenary session with representatives from equipment manufacturers worldwide, internal and working group meetings, there will also be a dedicated workshop on bolting and rebolting, a subject the UIAA has dedicated significant resources to over recent years. A dedicated website page traces the work which has been delivered and the information available.
Perhaps most significantly there will be two public events, under the guise ‘UIAA SafeCom World Congress’ on the evenings of Tuesday 15 April and Wednesday 16 April. These are being organised in close collaboration with ENSM, National School of Skiing and Mountaineering of France (Ecole Nationale des Sports de Montagne), and will take place at ENSA’s (Ecole Nationale de Ski et d’Alpinisme) HQ (35 Rte du Bouchet, 74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France)
Across both evenings there will be a presentation of the UIAA’s work and heritage in climber safety as well as contributions from ENSA and from FFCAM, la Fédération française des clubs alpins et de montagne, a founder member of the UIAA and a close supporter of the event. The centrepiece of both evenings will be round table discussions led by UIAA Safety Commission President Lionel Kiener.
The themes of the two evenings are:
15 April, 20:00: Climbing-mountaineering and equipment innovation: a common evolution? Speakers: Michel Beal, CEO Beal, Denis Pivot, CAMP/CEN Commission President, Alain Maurice, Head of Bureau d’étude at Petzl, Jean-Franck Charlet, professor at ENSA, former UIAA SafeCom President and SafeCom Honorary Member
16 April, 20:00: UIAA and EN standards history, research, updates and future developments Speakers: Denis Pivot, CAMP/CEN Commission President, Jean-Franck Charlet, professor at ENSA, former UIAA SafeCom President and SafeCom Honorary Member, Marco Bonaiti, CEO Kong, Julia Janotte, DAV (German Alpine Club) Sicherheitforschung (Safety Research Centre/DAV)
Experts include members of the UIAA Safety Commission, leaders from the field of climbing equipment as well as well-known climbers and mountaineers. The UIAA will be represented by President Peter Muir, General Secretary and former SafeCom President Amit Chowdhury, and CEO Andre Von Rotz.
Entry to the event is free, and will be on a first come, first served basis. Further information is on the official event page and poster. The UIAA will offer some short-form content from the event on its social media channels.
To help manage entry numbers, anyone wishing to attend is welcome to express their interest by completing the following form.
A document on Sharp Edges and Rope Cuts, produced in collaboration between the safety commissions of the NKF/NCF and the UIAA has been published.
This is an English language translation of the original ‘Skarpe kanter og taukutt”, produced in Norwegian by the Norges klatreforbund (NKF) / Norwegian Climbing Federation (NCF), a UIAA full member.
Background
The climbing rope is the backbone of the protection system in sport climbing, mountaineering and ice climbing. If the backbone breaks, climbers find themselves at the mercy of gravity. A fall during roped climbing will very likely cause serious injury or death to the climber.
The paper explores the risks associated with climbing ropes breaking due to contact with sharp edges. It outlines the factors contributing to rope cuts, historical data on accidents, and recommendations for climbers and route developers to mitigate these risks.
This document charts:
Requirements for climbing ropes
What are sharp edges?
What happens when ropes break and cause of rope breaks
The impact of sharp edges
Rope breaks due to rockfall
Non-rock fall rope cuts
The paper also provides a series of real-life rope cut cases studies.
Though rope failures due to sharp edges are rare, they pose serious risks. The study emphasises the importance of awareness, careful route planning, and proper climbing techniques to prevent accidents.
While the UIAA Safety Commission, other related bodies, and climbing equipment and gear manufacturers will continue to explore ways to improve rope resistance to sharp edges, climbers are called to proactively assess and mitigate risks during their climbs.
Download the paper here.
Please note: A minor revision was made to the English version in June 2025.
The UIAA Mountain Protection Award (MPA), the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation’s flagship project in sustainability, returns for its 11th edition. Application for the 2025 Award is now open with details on how to register outlined below.
The MPA is open to any project rooted in mountain sports with a focus on environmental sustainability and climate change.
The Award, last held in 2023, returns this year following an extensive restructuring process. As part of this process, the MPA Working Group of the UIAA Mountain Protection Commission, led by a number of leading experts in the field of mountain protection, climate change, environmental science and mountain tourism, reviewed all aspects of the Award from its frequency, its prizes, its application process and the support it provides to nominated projects. The Award also welcomes a major new sponsor in the form of its Presenting Partner, Lenovo.
Two main prizes will be offered this year:
Overall Winner:receiving EUR 8,000 prize money, communication amplification through UIAA partners, a certificate of recognition, a trophy, an invitation and paid trip to the dedicated award ceremony, the MPA winner logo as well as international communication on all UIAA platforms.
Best New Initiative: receiving EUR 2,000 prize money, a certificate of recognition, the MPA Best New Initiative logo, international communication on all UIAA platforms and most importantly benefitting from an expert review and advice to further develop the concept and support its implementation.
In addition to the prize winners, a total of 10-15 projects will be showcased on the official MPA platform and through the UIAA’s communication channels.
One of the significant changes in the Award is its move to a two-year cycle. With a significant alumni group of participants and awards winners since the award inception in 2013, a global community of experience and exposure has formed. From 2025 the MPA will function on a two-year cycle with one year being an adjudication and award year; with the alternate year having a focus on community building and associated knowledge sharing.
Community building will be achieved through information exchange via channels such as newsletters, information exchanges virtually and in identified regions.
MPA winner 2020-2021: Giroparchi Nature Trail by Fondation Grand Paradis
Participation in the community engagement poses a unique opportunity to refine, improve and grow existing initiatives through global exchange. It also provides a chance for MPA partners, like Lenovo, to engage with projects more directly and in depth.
One example of this is the relationship the UIAA has maintained with the last recipient of the MPA, the Gear Tips project from Brazil. Gear Tips recently reported on how winning the MPA in 2023 has enabled their project to advance in its goals an receive more of an international spotlight. Gear Tips has also been present in two significant UIAA activities over the past 12 months; as a presenter at the inaugural UIAA Mountain Sports Training Course in Bariloche, Argentina and as a featured story on the UIAA podcast Mountain Voices. The UIAA is keen for this type of collaboration to become the norm for all nominated projects going forward.
“Building on the tremendous platform created over the past 12 years; by recognising projects focused on sustainable mountain contributions, we are striving to enhance the impact of the Mountain Protection Award. Now with a two-year cycle, we will focus on assessment and award in 2025, followed by a year of community engagement and collaboration to aid the global interaction and impact that each of the diverse projects can provide. The renewed focus on legacy of the Mountain Protection Award would not be possible without our partners including Lenovo.” Jeannette McGill – UIAA Mountain Protection Award Assessment Team
Application closes at midnight on 15 May. The assessment process will take place from May – early July. The showcase of projects on the UIAA communication channels will run from June-September. The Best New Initiative will be announced at the UIAA General Assembly in Kosovo on 25 October while the overall winner will be crowned at a dedicated ceremony to be held on International Mountain Day, 11 December, at a location to be confirmed.
Application Guidelines & Forms
Please read the application guidelines before applying for full details on eligibility and requirements.
Projects are encouraged to complete the offline application form in their own time before completing the online form. Completing the online form is mandatory and has to be done when all information is ready.
As of 1 February, a new era began at the UIAA – International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation – as André von Rotz officially began his tenure as UIAA Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Throughout the past few weeks and months, André has had the opportunity to immerse himself in many aspects of the UIAA’s activities including attending the UIAA General Assembly in November. He has also benefitted from an extensive handover period led by outgoing CEO Nils Glatthard.
“The past few months have enabled me to gain an even closer appreciation for the scale and scope of the UIAA’s activities, the challenges which lie ahead and the immediate priorities. I am very excited to now officially be able to begin in the role. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Executive Committee (EC) once again for the trust they have placed in me, including Francoise Jaquet and Lode Beckers, who have left but were involved in the application process. A big – thank you – also to the entire office team who answered my questions about the UIAA with endless patience at all times of the day and gave me overall a very warm welcome. Last but not least, I would like to thank Nils for his outstanding work over the last few years and the consistently open and honest discussions during the handover meetings. He has left a very large footprint which will now need to be filled in the coming weeks and months. However, together with the office staff, the EC and Management Board (MB) as well as all member federations, I am convinced that we will master this feat.” André von Rotz
One of Nils Glatthard’s final engagements as UIAA CEO was at the UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup in Saas-Fee, Switzerland. There his son, Yannick, worked as one of the routesetters. Credit: UIAA/Kaspar Kellerhals
Nils Glatthard leaves the UIAA after nearly eight years of service in which he has overseen the federation’s delivery of a number of major projects notably in the fields of mountain safety and mountain protection, the continued growth of the UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour, the challenges of the Covid-19 period, and a period of great stability notably at an Office level.
“I would like to thank everyone for their support, friendship and collaboration over the past eight years. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as the UIAA CEO and I wish André all the best in helping the UIAA develop and grow further. I would particularly like to thank all Executive Committee and Management Board members, Commission Presidents, athletes and officials and my team at the UIAA Office in Bern and beyond.” Nils Glatthard
Further details on André’s appointment and his background can be found here.
The UIAA – International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation – is delighted to announce the publication of its new declaration on hiking, climbing and mountaineering.
The declaration was officially approved at the 2024 UIAA General Assembly in Malta and has been conceived to exist in a number of different formats:
(Download) A poster format identifying the declaration’s nine basic norms
(Coming soon) A digital format on the UIAA website where not only is the entire document available to view but its individual chapters will feature live case studies where the UIAA identifies best practices in support of the declaration’s messages.
The UIAA Mountaineering Commission was tasked by the UIAA Executive Committee to draft this new Declaration as the previous version (Tyrol Declaration 2002) required updating. The Mountaineering Commission was supported in the development and delivery of this new Declaration by a number of other UIAA commissions as well as the UIAA Executive Committee and Management Board.
Greg Moseley, UIAA Mountaineering Commission President: “It is hoped that the new Declaration will provide the basis for a number of initiatives planned for the future, notably providing a platform for views and opinions on matters mountaineering and climbing. In this way, the Declaration will be a living document reflecting the views of mountaineers around the world.”
The purpose of the new declaration is twofold:
To lay out the generally accepted norms for behaviour that the UIAA considers optimal. This includes the ethics and style with which we climb and the environmental and social considerations that we should be aware of.
To clarify the best practice for climbers and mountaineers from a mountaineering viewpoint. This particularly refers to the style of rock climbs and ascents of “alpine” peaks.
As the declaration introduction identifies: “These are a set of recommendations and norms, rather than rules that will hopefully resonate with climbers and mountaineers worldwide.”
These norms are the following:
We report the style by which we climb with honesty.
We accept other people’s styles when different from our own.
We will not harm the experience of others while hiking or climbing.
We consider the effect on others before taking risks.
We help others in need, even at the expense of our own goals.
We respect the natural ecosystems in climbing areas and mountain regions.
We recognise climate change and seek to reduce our impact.
We adhere to local regulations and respect local communities and cultures.
We support the right of access to the wilderness with responsibility.
Background Information
The 2002 Tyrol Declaration was an excellent document that has served the UIAA and the mountaineering and climbing community very well over the last 23 years and many of the maxims included in that document are still very pertinent and applicable today.
But the world has changed quite dramatically over the intervening period and climbing and mountaineering have changed with it. The developments include the rise of sport and indoor competition climbing, the rapid development of the commercial outfitters guiding clients up major peaks in the greater ranges and the influence of the internet, apps and social media that have revolutionized the availability of information and changed trends. The influence of these developments is being felt worldwide.
One of the biggest developments is climate change. Sustainability guides us all at the UIAA. This is not only about protecting mountain ecosystems but supporting the well-being of local communities and those who depend on climbing and mountaineering for their livelihood.
It is about maximizing the positive environmental, social, and economic impacts associated with climbing and mountaineering, to ensure that our sport can thrive and continue to be enjoyed by current and future generations.
Mountaineering practices vary around the world from country to country and culture to culture. None of these variations are right or wrong and are usually simply differences in emphasis.
Climbing and mountaineering can generate positive impacts, supporting peace building, health and well-being, promoting cross-cultural awareness and understanding, fostering pride in cultural traditions and supporting heritage building. It can also help avoid depopulation and urban relocation by creating local jobs and livelihood opportunities, and increase visitor awareness and appreciation of natural, cultural, and historical values and assets in mountains.
It is hoped that this Declaration will contribute to the foundation that binds mountaineers together across the world.
As detailed above, the UIAA will regularly promote stories, initiatives and projects which align with the principles and messages of the declaration. UIAA member associations are encouraged to share the declaration and to support translations of the document.
For over 40 years, ARVA has been designing avalanche safety equipment with one constant goal: to ensure maximum performance and reliability. Every product undergoes rigorous testing to exceed industry standards.
Recently, ARVA identified an isolated issue with some NEO BT PRO devices. This malfunction may lead to abnormal battery consumption, causing in some cases a restart and deactivating the transmit and search modes.
To ensure your safety, ARVA have decided to voluntarily recall all NEO BT PRO units for inspection.
View the full recall report and the procedure to return any impacted products, click here. The French version is available here. Translations in other languages can be found here.
For a full list of recalls and warnings reported to the UIAA please visit the dedicated database.
In late 2024, the UIAA and KEOS, a sports marketing agency based in Switzerland, signed a new partnership. This agreement sees KEOS act as the official agency to the UIAA in terms of marketing and sponsorship opportunities.
KEOS connects athletes, brands, and rights holders to create impactful partnerships in the world of sports. Their mission is to drive growth, elevate brands and foster meaningful collaborations that help partners achieve their goals. The KEOS team have worked with a number of stakeholders in the world of sport notably representing individual athletes and some major football and ice hockey teams in Switzerland.
Throughout the coming months, KEOS is working with the UIAA to increase the federation’s relationship and opportunities with brands and sponsors notably across its major projects – climate change and sustainability, the Safety Centre of Excellence and the UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour.
The United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. Starting from 2025, March 21 is recognised as the World Day for Glaciers. And in an exciting new development, the UIAA is partnering with Lenovo for its IMD activities.
As part of its work in mountain protection and in the field of climate change, the UIAA has committed to playing an active role throughout activities in 2025. The UN-declared International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP) provides an excellent opportunity for the UIAA to put words into action. The global initiative aims at raising awareness about the critical role of glaciers, snow and ice. Through its activities, the UIAA unquestionably has an impact and is impacted by glaciers, which it would like to honour through giving glaciers a voice throughout 2025. A dedicated working group within the UIAA Mountain Protection Commission has been created. In collaboration with UNESCO World Network of Mountain Biosphere Reserves and Mountain Partnership, the UIAA is preparing a number of engagement opportunities and member federations as well as glacier lovers are invited to join activities and celebrate IYGP jointly.
Both events (the dedicated activities in 2025 and the annual ‘World Day’) aim to raise global awareness about the critical role of glaciers, snow and ice in the climate system. They aim to draw attention to the effects of changes in the Earth’s cryosphere on sea-level rise, the hydrological cycle, geohazards, and related impacts on our economy and society. These events also aim to encourage the exchange of data, knowledge, and best practices regarding glacier preservation and adaptation strategies.
The International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 and World Day for Glaciers were proposed by Tajikistan, adopted by a UN General Assembly resolution inviting UNESCO and WMO, in cooperation with UN Member States and relevant organizations such as the WGMS, to facilitate their implementation.
During 2025, many international, but also national events will address the role of glaciers in the global system.
The UIAA’s activities officially commence on International Mountain Day 2024 with the release of the first of its 12 case studies dedicated to glacier preservation. These stories will be distributed weekly from January to March across the UIAA social media channels and focus on the plight of glaciers in different areas of the world and from the perspective of a range of individuals – photographers, mountain guides, geologists, climbers and mountaineers and glacier experts. On 21 March, a summary of these stories will be released on the UIAA website. Furthermore, a dedicated episode of the UIAA podcast Mountain Voices will focus on glaciers and feature contributions from a number of experts. This will be released in the first quarter of 2025.
The UIAA Mountain Protection Commission is further committed to publishing a Glacier Manifesto in the course of next year and will be reaching out to various stakeholders within and outside the UIAA to get involved.
“Glaciers are fundamental in the life network in all mountain regions; their invaluable ecosystem services make possible all life forms downstream. For us, glaciers represent the wild beauty of high mountains that have been an inspiration for generations; for us, glaciers are a reminder of the last glaciations that shaped all the valleys where we settle. Glaciers mean history, culture, and home. As the mountaineering and climbing community, we are in the frontline of its rapid change due to current climatic conditions. That’s why we are taking decisive action to celebrate and remember the importance of glaciers for all humankind in this International Year of Glacier’s Preservation.” Fernando Iglesias Letelier, UIAA IYGP Working Group
The UN will provide here an overview of events and activities, relevant for international and national glacier monitoring, glacier changes and related impacts:
To mark IMD 2024, the UIAA has also released its 2023 Carbon Footprint Report (its sixth since the inaugural submission in 2018) and recently published its Sustainability Charter. The UIAA believes that climbers and mountaineers can best meet their environmental responsibilities and help safeguard mountain regions and their local communities through actions that include (self) awareness, planning and implementing practical measures, advocacy, and the regular exchange of experiences. However, there are potentially numerous and diverse sustainability objectives to consider, many of which overlap. Therefore, addressing them requires simple and practical actions that serve multiple benefits and are adequately adapted to the specific context. The Sustainability Charter serves as guidance for this.
Furthermore, the UIAA’s flagship project in sustainability, the Mountain Protection Award returns for its 11th edition in 2025. The now biennial Award returns with a number of exciting new developments including the partnership with tech giants Lenovo. Further details on the 2025 MPA will be communicated in due course. Application opens on 1 March.
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