In 2024, United Nations General Assembly decided to proclaim the period 2025 to 2034 as the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences (DACS) to address the challenges associated with changes to the cryosphere by advancing related research and monitoring. DACS started with the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (2025) and will end with the International Polar Year 2032/33. UNESCO is leading the implementation of the DACS in collaboration with other relevant organizations and organized a meeting at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, on March 18/19 launching the decade with dedicated sessions and side events.
The motivation to launch this action relates to the observed rapid changes of the global cryosphere and the connected environmental, social and economic impacts of the loss of cryospheric elements and its impacts on freshwater and oceans. These observations call for an integrated cryospheric monitoring and modelling, as overarching challenges are global cryosphere monitoring, actionable cryosphere prediction, cryospheric risk management solutions, and adaptation strategies to cryosphere loss. The synergies of DACS and IPY-5 are clearly stated:
- Shared scientific mission
- Full cryosphere perspective linking polar and high-mountain regions
- Coordinated international framework for cryosphere research
- Coordinated cryosphere observations
- Respectful integration of scientific, indigenous and local knowledge systems
- Capacity building and long-term scientific legacy
This framework is a good reason and occasion to become involved, and support coordinated research and outreach on permafrost and beyond, e.g. by coordinating and linking meetings and initiatives across the cryosphere community. The IPA would like to see individual IPA members as well as IPA communities (PYRN, GTN-P, etc.) actively involved in the ACTIONS and supports related activities. The call for expressions of interest in the DACS governing structures is still open until March 31 (link).
Provided by: Isabelle Gärtner-Roer, IPA Co-president
