COP29 – Glacial lake outburst floods and flows: responding to climate change risks related to the world’s glaciers

Date and Time

Monday, November 18th, 10:00-11:00 (GMT+4) – Cryosphere Pavilion, Blue Zone

Summary

In honor of the upcoming International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, this event showcased the dangerous and deadly impacts of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in different glaciated mountain ranges, such as the Hindu Kush Himalayan and Central Asian regions, and underline the importance of GLOF disaster risk management. The event also brought forward solutions to reduce multi-hazard risk associated with GLOFs, including the launch of the Adaptation at Altitude GLOF Solution Synthesis, providing key principles for GLOF solutions. The event included practitioners from different mountain regions who shared their insights on GLOF management in different countries.

Mr. Guy Bonvin, Deputy Head of Regional Cooperation, Swiss Embassy to Azerbaijan, provided an opening statement on the importance of mountains and glaciers around the world, citing upstream-downstream nature of glaciers and their risks. He also highlighted the need to mobilize adequate finance and better communicate scientific findings to decision makers in order to address these challenges.

Dr. Simon Allen shared a background explanation of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods and the different types of actions that are taken to mitigate their risks, including reducing the physical risks (size of glacial lakes), reducing exposure through evacuation in the short-term and spatial planning in the long term, and reducing vulnerability in communities. He shared the GLOF Synthesis, which showcases findings from an examination of 100 GLOF-related solutions. These recommendations include addressing physical hazards in conjunction with exposure and vulnerability, incorporating local contexts and knowledge in planning, and mobilizing adequate financial and capacity support.

The panel discussion included insights from Dr. Sher Muhammad (ICIMOD) and Ms. Ruth Nguma (UNESCO). Key points included:

• Data and monitoring systems are vital to understanding regional challenges and gathering the necessary science for decision-making
• Multi-hazard risks (such as those from GLOFs) are highly complex, and require coordination between different institutions
• The International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation involves four task forces working on different topics, such as exchanging best practices, developing workshops for capacity building, filling data gaps, and mobilizing financial support. Interested organizations can engage in the task forces.
• Participation and inclusivity are key in project planning. The design of new projects for addressing GLOF risks should involve initial stakeholder engagement to define the design of projects, and integrate scientific solutions to respond to the identified risks.
• Transboundary mechanisms on glacier risks allow countries to work on challenges jointly, and offer a scientific basis for collaboration.

Speakers

Moderator:

• Alex Mackey, Project Manager, Zoï Environment Network

Keynote speakers:

• Guy Bonvin, Deputy Head of Regional Cooperation, Swiss Embassy to Azerbaijan
• Simon Allen, Senior Scientist, Universities of Geneva and Zurich

Panellists:

• Ruth Nguma,  Associate Programme Specialist, UNESCO  
• Sher Muhammad, Cryosphere Specialist, ICIMOD

The event is available on the Cryosphere Pavilion’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GPuo9FnAWQ