A message from the Frozen World to Global Leaders at COP29

High-level side event to highlight global consequences of cryosphere change at the UNFCCC climate conference

Under the leadership of Norway's Chairship of the Arctic Council, key stakeholders and rightsholders from polar, mountainous and vulnerable low-lying regions are addressing the critical issue of cryosphere change at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The high-level side-event, "A Message from the Frozen World - the Global Impact of a Changing Cryosphere," aims to emphasize the urgency of ice loss and its global effects. The event is scheduled for 12 November 2024, 16:45-18:15, with contributors including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, the Inuit Circumpolar Council, the World Meteorological Organization, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative, the Arctic Council's Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research.

See the side event outline and speakers here.

All people on Earth depend on the cryosphere. Snow, glaciers, ice sheets, sea ice, and permafrost are significant reservoirs and sources of freshwater, sustaining ecosystems and supporting livelihoods. Approximately 70% of the Earth's freshwater is stored in glaciers and ice sheets. However, anthropogenic emissions are driving rapid changes in the cryosphere, leading to global consequences including rising sea levels, loss of water resources, accelerated warming, extreme weather events, and significant impacts on biodiversity, ecosystems, and human livelihoods. Coastal regions, low-lying islands, polar and high mountain areas are especially vulnerable.