International Mountain Day 2025: The world is set to observe International Mountain Day 2025 on today on Thursday, December 11, a day meant to recognise the importance of mountains for life. This annual
celebration is dedicated to raising awareness and inspiring action for positive change towards the preservation of mountains.
Mountains are home to diverse ecosystems and communities. They provide essential resources like water, food and livelihoods. This year, the United Nations has announced that the International Mountain Day will focus on glaciers, the massive ice reserves that are vital for freshwater and ecosystems.
International Mountain Day 2025 Theme
This year’s theme for International Mountain Day is: “Glaciers matter for water, food and livelihoods in mountains and beyond.”
According to the UN, glaciers store around 70% of the world’s freshwater. They support rivers, agriculture and clean energy. However, the recent acceleration in global warming conditions pose a threat towards glaciers. They are melting at a fast pace, threatening millions of people and increasing the risk of floods and landslides.
As a result, this year, the International Mountain Day celebrations will focus on glaciers to raise awareness about their role in agriculture, water security and the livelihoods of vulnerable mountain communities.
International Mountain Day 2025: History
In 2002, the UN General Assembly designated December 11 as International Mountain Day.
“In 2002, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) designated 11 December as International Mountain Day. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) coordinates the annual celebration of the Day to foster greater awareness of mountain issues,” according to the website of the UN-backed Sustainable Development Goals organisation.
International Mountain Day 2025: Significance
With a focus on preserving glaciers, International Mountain Day 2025 will focus on supporting efforts to “underscore the critical role mountain regions play as a key source of global freshwater and ecosystem services,” the UN said.
It explained that globally, over two billion people rely on melt from glaciers and snow for their freshwater, including for their food security and livelihood.
As a result, it is very important to mark this day by underscoring the urgent need for the collective to protect mountains and glaciers from the impacts of climate change. This includes supporting measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, regulating use of mountain resources for commercial purposes and investing in integrated water management systems, etc.
Top Travel Destinations in India This Winter
In India, winters are a popular holiday season as people seek to experience different climates and landscapes. Given India’s extensive range of tourist destinations, travellers have the chance to visit snow-covered mountains to sunny beaches in the south.
Many people tend to travel to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand or Jammu-Kashmir during this time of the year to experience snow. They prefer winter sports, scenic views and cozy stays.
On the contrary, many also visit places like Rajasthan, which is difficult to visit in summers due to heat wave conditions. Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur and Mount Abu offer rich cultural experiences and majestic forts.
Many people also tend to visit Kerala for its scenic backwaters or Goa for its vibrant nightlife and festive winter atmosphere. These tourism hotspots arrange special festivities during Christmas and New Year, making them ideal for holiday celebration.
