1. Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures 29 th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008 Launch of WGMS Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures Peter Gilruth, Ph.D Director, Division of Early Warning and Assessment

2. Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures 29 th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008 Mission & mandate (UNEP-DEWA) Keep under review the state of & trends in the global environment, and provide early warning of emerging environmental problems and threats. To help increase the capacity of governments to use environmental information for decision making and action planning for sustainable human development.

3. Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures 29 th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008 The role of science e.g. climate change

4. Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures 29 th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008 Reducing uncertainty leads to action

5. Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures 29 th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008 Global-level reports

6. Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures 29 th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008 UNEP Medium Term Strategy Six cross-cutting thematic priorities: Climate change; Disasters and conflicts; Ecosystem management; Environmental governance; Harmful substances and hazardous waste; and Resource efficiency – sustainable consumption and production.

7. Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures 29 th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008 Facts & Figures! And now…. Global ‘mini Atlas’ on glaciers ~ a comprehensive, long-term overview with basic facts, figures and trends ….to better inform policy-makers, research community and public at large. First global overview report after the 1988 World Glacier Inventory, complementing regular publications: Fluctuations of Glaciers (FoG) (5-yearly since 1960) Glacier Mass Balance Bulletins (MBB) (2-yearly since 1988) On-line World Glacier Inventory (WGI) …and the Global Outlook for Ice & Snow (2007)

8. Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures 29 th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008 Key points Glaciers: solid monitoring efforts since …1894! Initiated by International Glacier Commission at 6th International Geological Congress in Zurich, Switzerland; Nowadays good overviews with long-term trends for many parts of the world…but many data gaps persist, mainly in the Tropics, Central Asia and the Polar Regions; Urgency of climate change and the need for scientifically-based adaptation strategies call for re-start of interrupted time series in strategically important regions and strengthening of the monitoring network; More use of high-resolution remote sensing and geo-information technologies to compliment the traditional field observations. Bring users and producers of data together ~ support monitoring efforts and scientific assessments. Thus Look forward to work with WGMS and other core data services and undertake or support climate and other scientific assessments with UN(EP), Panels and partners. Download the glaciers report from http://www.grid.unep.ch/glaciers. Printed copies available by early-mid September, please leave your name/card and we will send it to you.

9. Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures 29 th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008 Thank you

10. Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures 29 th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008 Overview of the Science - Policy continuum