_BIOGRAPHY Born 27 June 1961 in Liverpool, she is a Nigerian-British diplomat serving as the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General since January 2017. Formerly Nigeria’s Environment Minister, she played a pivotal role in shaping the 2030 Agenda and chairs the UN Sustainable Development Group. 

“GLACIERS HOLD NEARLY 70% OF EARTH’S FRESHWATER. THEIR PRESERVATION IS NOT JUST AN ENVIRONMENTAL DUTY, BUT A GLOBAL IMPERATIVE.”

OPENING RECOGNITION AND GLOBAL MOMENTUM

Your commitment to glaciers - the water towers of the world, holding nearly 70% of Earth’s freshwater - stands as a beacon of hope, towards keeping global momentum, securing our planet’s vital water sources, and raising urgent climate ambition. A decade has passed since the world embraced the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement, setting out a bold vision for a more just, resilient, and sustainable future.

In spite of the recent geopolitical tensions and the pushback on multilateralism, this Conference convenes at a pivotal moment—with a decisive call to turn commitments into action, and shape the trajectory of our planet, economies, and the well-being of generations to come. The time for ambition is an imperative now, and the stakes have never been higher.

THE GLOBAL CONSEQUENCES OF GLACIER LOSS

Since 1975, over 9,000 billion tons of ice have disappeared – equivalent to a 25-meter-thick block covering all of Germany. In the past six years, glaciers have been retreating at an unprecedented pace, marking the fastest loss in recorded history. Between 2022 and 2024 alone, the world witnessed the largest three-year glacier mass loss ever observed – a staggering acceleration of ice melt.

At current rates, many glaciers may not survive this century, reshaping landscapes, ecosystems, livelihoods and water security on a global scale. This is not just a mountain crisis – it is a slow-moving global catastrophe with far-reaching consequences for  planet and people.

Glacier loss threatens water and food security, biodiversity loss, infrastructure, and the stability and health of communities worldwide. Billions of people depend on glaciers for drinking water, irrigation, livelihoods, and energy production, making their preservation essential for human survival and sustainable development. Yet those at the frontline of glacier loss - primarily in developing regions - face the greatest injustices.

With shrinking water resources, vulnerable communities endure worsening poverty, forced migration, and harsh living conditions all while relying on glacier-fed supplies that are rapidly disappearing. Melting glaciers also drive sea-level rise, endangering coastal megacities and displacing millions downstream.

A CALL TO ACTION

With a third of mountain ice already lost, these consequences will only intensify without urgent action to keep global temperatures within 1.5 degrees. Eighty-three percent of emissions lie in the hands of just 35 countries. Scaling up ambition and investment is essential before dwindling water destabilizes ecosystems and economies. Adaptation must be inclusive, data-driven, and locally grounded, but it also requires predictable financing to succeed.

The upcoming Financing for Development Conference in Seville offers an opportunity to turn words into investment. “Resilience Pays” — every dollar spent on adaptation strengthens early warning systems, safeguards livelihoods, and reduces future costs. Failing to act now will result in exponentially higher losses.

As we embark on the Decade for Glaciers’ Preservation, three priorities stand out: Unite global partnerships around ambitious, economy-wide commitments; Ensure national climate plans set measurable adaptation targets linked to budgets; and Identify investment-ready projects that deliver returns, jobs, and resilience.

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And as we look ahead to the 2026 UN Water Conference, co-hosted by Senegal and the UAE, let us continue the strong leadership shown by Tajikistan and the Netherlands in advancing the International Decade for Action on Water.

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Edited from comments given at the Opening Session of the International Conference for Glaciers' Preservation on May 2025.