APPENDIX 2
EC-PORS-4, INF. 10
INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF SNOW AND ICE
Aims:

To generate awareness of the importance of snow and ice, the rapid ongoing
changes of these vital components of the Earth system, and impacts of the
changes on natural resources like water and ecosystem-based services upon
which humans critically depend;

To mobilize research, policy, public, and private efforts on understanding and
responding to the implications of retreating ice and snow and to changes in
their regimes around the globe; and

To foster communication and collaboration between ice- and snowconcerned communities that are currently separated due to their different
geographic origin, e.g. polar or alpine, or responsibilities focusing, e.g. on the
environment, development, business, and societal matters.
Relevance of ice and snow
Ice and snow are currently present on up to 33% of the Earth‘s total land surface
and play a crucial role in making planet Earth hospitable. They help in cooling the
planet by reflecting the sunlight. Through the phase changes between ice, liquid
water, and water vapor they act as the critical planetary thermostat setting the
background temperature of the atmosphere and the world’s oceans. Snow and
glaciers contribute to the water supplies of hundreds of millions of people and are
for some communities the primary source of water during warmer and drier
months.
While whole ecosystems, communities, cultures and industries are entirely
dependent on ice and snow, recent research suggests, for example, that majestic
glaciers will disappear from many mountain regions within several decades to a
couple of centuries. Soon, the Arctic will have almost no sea ice in summer for the
first time in several thousand years. Winter and summer snow cover is also rapidly
changing. Indeed, the habitability of a critical habitat for humans—the coastal zones
of the world - home to billions and a substantial fraction of global economic activity would be in severe jeopardy if the distribution of snow and ice shift significantly.
Hafnarbraut 2I, 200 Kópavogur Iceland I Tel: +354 842 0222 I vox@voxnaturae.org I www.voxnaturae.org
advoc
ating
and
mobili
zing
for
snow
and
ice
Scope of the International Year of Snow and Ice
Ice and snow belong to “the cryosphere,” a term that collectively describes elements
of the Earth System containing water in its frozen state and includes solid
precipitation, snow cover, sea ice, lake- and river- ice, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets,
permafrost, and seasonally frozen ground. Geographically, the International Year of
Snow and Ice would bring into particular focus the two polar regions and
mountainous regions that maintain glacier systems and snow cover. Global linkages
would be demonstrated by highlighting the concerns of those affected by rapidly
melting ice and reduced snow even if far displaced from them.
A host of subject matters will fall under the International Year of Snow and Ice
including climate variations, ecosystems, human development, water scarcity, sealevel rise, and natural hazards arising from retreating ice and snow.
The International Year of Snow and Ice is conceived of as a kick-off to longer-term
programmes including the International Polar Initiative (IPI), currently under
development and discussion across the United Nation Member States and agencies.
If endorsed by the international community, IPI may start in 2017 or 2018 as a longterm effort to address, efficiently and in coordinated manner, the polar aspects of
the global sustainability through a combination of research, observations,
development of environmental services, education, and outreach.
Immediate next steps
The aim is to have the UN General Assembly designate the year 2016 as the
International Year of Snow and Ice.
The organization Vox Naturae has rallied a number of actors in promoting this
objective including the Global Water Partnership, the City University of New York’s
Environmental CrossRoads Initiative, Canadian Polar Commission, the Arctic
Imperative Summit, ICIMOD (The International Centre for Integrated Mountain
Development), the Icelandic Meteorological Office, and more.
The idea will be presented in the context of the UN Water meeting scheduled for 1921 February 2013 to obtain the backing of the wider UN system. Efforts to garner
diplomatic support will be made early in 2013 through face to face meetings with
UN country delegations in New York.
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Possible activities of the International Year of Snow and
Ice:




Public awareness campaign of the importance of snow and ice in terms of
water availability, sea level, weather, culture, and more;
Enhanced support to climate change mitigation and adaptation - because ice
and snow cover are nature’s primary indicators of climate change and
because their changes are already having severe human and ecological
consequences;
Global scientific campaign to assess ecosystem services provided by the
cryosphere, including future water resources, and how they are being
affected by a warming climate; and
Policy action on the sustainable management of water sources originating
from mountains with snow cover and glaciers.
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