The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) celebrates World Water Day 2025: “Save Our Glaciers”

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The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) celebrated World Water Day 2025 on 22 March in Vienna, highlighting the theme “Save Our Glaciers.”

Key Highlights

• Glacier Retreat in Upper Danube Basin:
  • Glaciers feeding the Danube are shrinking rapidly due to climate change.
  • This threatens water availability, biodiversity, hydropower, agriculture, and ecological balance.
• Changing River Dynamics:
  • Winter runoff likely to increase due to earlier snow/ice melt.
  • Summer runoff expected to decline, aggravating water scarcity in the basin.
• ICPDR Climate Strategy:
  • Focus on Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Drought Overview Report.
  • Emphasizes drought monitoring, transboundary cooperation, sustainable water management, and nature-based solutions.
• Call for Action:
  • ICPDR Executive Secretary Birgit Vogel stressed the urgency of unified efforts to combat climate change and protect glaciers.

About ICPDR

• Established under the Danube River Protection Convention.
• Ensures sustainable and equitable water management across the Danube River Basin.
• Works for conservation of water resources and protection of aquatic ecosystems.
  
  
  River Danube – Static Information
  • Origin: Black Forest Mountains, Germany (confluence of Brigach and Breg rivers near Donaueschingen).
  • Length: ~2,850 km (2nd longest river in Europe after Volga).
  • Drainage Basin: ~8,17,000 sq. km.
  • Direction of Flow: West → East.
  • Mouth: Black Sea (via the Danube Delta in Romania & Ukraine).

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  Countries it Flows Through (10)

  Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine.
  
  
  

Updated : 21 March 2025 ; 6:20 PM | https://unis.unvienna.org/