… for cryospheric sciences (2025 – 2034)

The Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences 2025-2034 (DACS) was proposed by France and Tajikistan, endorsed by the United Nations, and is led by UNESCO.

This initiative is a global effort to boost research on and monitoring of snow, ice and permafrost and 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. The open exchange of data, knowledge, and best practices is of highest relevance to drive urgent action to the protection of the Earth’s frozen areas. Thus, the initiative calls on scientists, governments, and communities worldwide to unite and protect the cryosphere and safeguard the billions of people who depend on them for their survival. 

Key objectives

• boost research and monitoring
• drive policy
• education and outreach

The International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation in 2025 made a prominent starting point of the decade. And the 5th International Polar Year (IPY-5) in 2032/33 will mark the fulminant end of the decade.

During the decade, many international and national events will address the role of snow, glaciers, ice sheets, sea ice and permafrost in the global system, as well as its changes and impacts. Soon, we will provide here an overview of events and activities, relevant for international and national glacier monitoring, glacier changes and related impacts.