I love doing something to help nature and society, not just for now, but also for future.

– W.L. Hung, CEO

For some people who especially live in the cities, it is hard for them to understand the value of nature such as wildlife animals, insects, plants, rivers, glaciers, forests, oceans, and beautiful nature landscapes etc. The fact is that nature supports our society, economy, life and future, including nurturing the most important elements of human life – Water, Food and Air. We shouldn’t consider that nature is free, and often take it for granted and overexploit it.

Glaciers cover about 11% of the Earth’s land area and contain about 70% of the world’s fresh water resources. They play an important role in regulating the Earth’s temperature, global thermal balance and water balance. Message from Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Day for Glaciers and World Water Day: “The Andes Mountains, which supply half of the water flowing into the Amazon River, have lost between 30 and 50% of their glaciers since the 1980s and could lose 97% of their icecaps by the end of the century. The glaciers of Mount Kenya, Rwenzori and Kilimanjaro will disappear entirely by 2040 if no action is taken, while the Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalayan system, commonly referred to as the ‘Third Pole’, is projected to lose half of its glacier volume by the year 2100.”

Human survival is inseparable from pure water, food and air. Glaciers conserve clean freshwater resources, and water nourishes land with rich nutrients. Water then follows rivers and merges into oceans to let the ocean breathe. Oceans exhale oxygen, and absorb the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide to let the glacier cool, glaciers maintain a balance of accumulation and ablation, stabilize the planet’s temperatures, enable sustainable water resources, and foster biodiversity and food crops in urban wildlife corridors. This recurring force of nature ultimately allows the health, peace and prosperity of humans and nature to develop sustainably. Will Legend “Green-blueprint” supports different regions to promote green development in an orderly manner according to their own conditions, achieve lasting social peace, build a livable earth, implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 1.5 climate target, and promote sustainable development of humans and nature.

Will Legend created the “Green-blueprint – Glacier, Land and Ocean Conservation and Education Programmes” to inspire the public to live in balance with nature, provide decision-makers with tools to formulate and implement sustainable development goals and policies, stimulate action and attract funding (Green Financing, Climate Finance, SDG&ESG Environmental Protection and Social-philanthropy Sponsorship), for the further implementation, safeguard the most important elements of human life – Water, Food and Air, as the cornerstone of environmental governance; promote better allocation of social resources, and builds lasting peace and inclusive community; practice low-carbon, non-toxic services and products to build good health and well-being.

Green Economy, Environment-Society, Green (Eco) Living. On March 21, 2023, Will Legend founded the “Let the Glacier Cool” Conservation and Education Programme and became the founding organization. In the same year, Will Legend was very honored to invite the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Dagu Glacier Administration Bureau as co-sponsors. Will Legend aims to connect different sectors to take action to address global challenges, advocates appropriate use of natural resources to develop the economy, and then use economic achievements to give back to nature conservation and social development, to achieve the integration of humans, society, economy and nature – allowing everyone to live a green (eco) living.

“2025 International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation”. In December 2022, the UN General assembly adopted the resolution to declare 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, accompanied by the proclamation of the 21st of March of each year as the World Day for Glaciers starting in 2025. This initiative seeks to raise global awareness on the critical role of glaciers, snow and ice in the climate system and the economic, social and environmental impacts of the impending changes in the Earth’s cryosphere.

Safeguarding fresh water resources for billions of people around the world – “The White Giants”. Glaciers serve as natural freshwater reservoirs, releasing meltwater that supports drinking water supplies, agriculture, industry, and healthy ecosystems. They provide essential benefits such as climate regulation and protection from natural hazards. Preserving glaciers is vital for the well-being of individuals and communities worldwide. Through the implementation of sustainable glacier management and monitoring practices, humanity can protect these frozen reservoirs that still hold approximately 70% of Earth’s freshwater. Implementing sustainable management practices and fostering international scientific cooperation are vital steps in preserving these critical water sources, ensuring long-term prosperity and promoting global peace.

The 2025 United Nations World Water Development Report (UN WWDR) focuses on mountain waters and their critical role as the world’s “Water Towers”. The report emphasizes mountains as essential sources of freshwater, vital for meeting basic human needs, ensuring food and energy security for billions of people both in mountain regions and downstream areas. The UN WWDR 2025 highlights the urgent challenges mountain water systems are facing, particularly the rapidly changing mountain cryosphere due to global climate change. The report draws special attention to the accelerating glacier melt, decreasing snow cover, and increasing permafrost thaw, which are making water flows from mountains more erratic and uncertain.

“Let the Glacier Cool” Conservation and Education Programme is part of the “Glacier” under the “Green-blueprint”, taking the Xinjiang Tianshan No. 1 Glacier and Sichuan Dagu Glacier as the starting points, and promoting “Let the Glacier Cool” to cool the Earth and slow down the rate of glacier melting. On December 28, 2023, Will Legend presented the “Third Pole Hong Kong Glacier Landmark” to the Dagu Glacier Adminstration Bureau as a symbol of promoting cultural exchanges and national integration between the Mainland of China and Hong Kong, and opening a new chapter of friendship between the people of the two places. Through the country’s first glacier protection joint action, the “Third Pole Glacier Journey” has been launched, and the first “Third Pole Hong Kong Glacier Museum” was established on the Dagu Glacier on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In the same year, Will Legend took the lead in injecting start-up funds into the “Glacier Research and Talent Training Project” of the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, as a means of training scientific research talents, promoting the sustainable development of glacier ecology and glacial water resources, and implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG6) – Water and Sanitation for All by 2030.

On March 17, 2025, Will Legend connected the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinjiang Tianshan Glacier National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station (Tianshan Glaciological Station), Polar Research Institute of China, Ministry of Natural Resources, Dagu Glacier Administration Bureau and “Center for Glacier Research” of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, jointly promoted the “Let the Glacier Cool” Initiative on the Dagu Glacier. Will Legend calls for global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate global warming. Let the “World Water Tower”, “Asian Water Tower” continue to fulfill the mission given by nature and protect an important element of life for humans and living things – Water.

“Let the Glacier Cool” advocates the protection of glaciers, glacial water resources, and the cryosphere. In education, Will Legend organizes Education for Sustainable Development Activities (ESD Activities) for schools, Green-blueprint Sustainable Conservation Curriculum, Green School Talk SDG4™, ESD&STEAM Self-study Channel™ and SDG&STEAM™ Educational Tour (Study Tour), to implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for Quality Education (SDG4). Will Legend provides and organizes “Green-blueprint” for enterprises and organizations: ESG&ClimateAction™ Event, SDG-in-China™ Research Trip, 1.5°C Climate Action SDG13™, ESG Action Plan Strategy™ Meeting, SDG&ESG Environmental Protection and Social-philanthropy Sponsorship Opportunity. Will Legend connects different sectors to jointly respond to the pressing global challenges of the 21st century through action, promotes the United Nations’ 2025 International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, World Day for Glaciers, and Decade of Cryosphere Science Action Initiatives and the three “Rio Conventions”, advocates faster reductions in carbon emissions, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, reduces climate disasters, and implements the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for Climate Action (SDG13) and the 1.5 Climate Goal.

The world in 2050 is so polluted that almost all plants, animals and insects have become extinct. Under the control of artificial intelligence, human beings have transformed from groups into cold individuals, no longer paying attention to people, families and communities around them. Wars and pollutions have made the blue planet no longer be seen. No one knows what nature is, even the human life elements Water, Food and Air are created artificially. Biodiversity has been lost, ecosystems have been destroyed, and there are no longer glaciers, rivers, lakes, wetlands, forests, or healthy land and oceans on the Earth.

“Pray in the wind, unity of heaven and humanity. You need to collect polar gems such as ice, snow, and permafrost, and then form a magic cryosphere to awaken the White Giant.” said Flowery Delek

“As long as you stick to your original aspirations and protect the Rio Conventions on Sustainable Development, the covenant between mankind and God, God will guide you, and the Legend of Will (Will Legend) is still going to be told!” said Flowery Delek

“Use the ancient glaciers of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as a guiding lighthouse. The White Giant is the Earth’s climate stabilizer and an important water resource.” Willy Bee Tashi keeps thinking about the hint from God

Therefore, Willy Bee spread his wings and set off with the wind, carrying Flowery. Facing with an unpredictable and uncontrollable future, Willy Bee and Flowery are trembling with fear, searching step by step for the source of water power.

Suddenly, the time tunnel opens again.

“Please believe that everything is the best arrangement. As long as we keep our faith and confidence and persevere to the end, we will be able to release the 3060 dual carbon power of the ‘Green-blueprint’, neutralize greenhouse gases, and promote the sustainable development of humans and nature.” said Captain Mat of the Barefoot Elf.

“You also need to use the ‘Power Number 322’ to cross the Tianshan Tianger Peak No. 1 Glacier, which is full of water power, and search for the “Young Guardians of Glacier” along the Urumqi River to obtain the key to unlock the World’s Water Tower; you also need to fly over the “Glacier in the Deep Ravine” which is about to disappear in around 2030 and use the “Power Number 321″ to establish the legendary “Third Pole Hong Kong Glacier Landmark” which is said to have super new energy power to Let the Glacier Cool.” said Captain Mat of the Barefoot Elf.

From that moment on, Willy Bee and Flowery receive full support from Captain Mat and the other three barefoot elves. They learn the spirit of the Sustainable Development Agenda, work together to awaken humanity’s attention to the “health” of the Earth from “Xi”, unite all sectors, promote shared economic achievements, inclusive society, and harmonious coexistence between humans and nature through the activities of conservation, education and social-philanthropy, and implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Climate Goal initiatives. At the end of the story, humans finally wake up and are willing to work with Willy Bee and Flowery to promote the integration of “humans, society, economy and nature”, repaint the Blue Earth, and allow everyone to live a green (eco) living.

Notes:

1. Glaciers: Glaciers cover about 11% of the Earth’s land area and contain about 70% of the world’s fresh water resources. They play an important role in regulating the Earth’s temperature, global thermal balance and water balance
2. Power Number 321: World Day for Glaciers 21 March
3. Power Number 322: World Water Day 22 March
4. “Water” Seed of Life: Glaciers store nearly two-thirds of the Earth’s fresh water, making them the world’s water towers. Ensuring fresh water supply for billions of people around the world is vital
5. Rio Conventions: The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity are collectively known as the three major Rio Conventions
6. Legend of Will (Will Legend): Glacier, Land and Ocean draw Will Legend’s “Green-blueprint”, achieving the integration of humans, society, economy and nature – allowing everyone to live a green (eco) living
7. Cryosphere: The cryosphere, composed of glaciers, snow, ice and permafrost, it plays an important role in regulating the Earth’s climate and ecosystem stability
8. Urumqi River: The Urumqi River originates from Glacier No. 1 near Tianger II Peak in the Central Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang – Tianshan Glacier No. 1
9. “Young Guardians of Glacier”: Chinese glaciologists, meteorologists and experts
10. World Water Towers: Glaciers are natural freshwater reservoirs whose meltwater supports drinking water supplies, agriculture, industry and ecosystems
11. The Disappearing “Glaciers in the Deep Ravine”: In 2024, the Global Glacier Disappearance List (GGCL) project selected glaciers that are about to melt away and have scientific research and socio-economic value as representatives from around the world to show the world the dramatic changes in glaciers and the urgency of protecting them. Dagu Glacier is included as the only glacier in China that is expected to disappear by 2030
12. “Third Pole Hong Kong Glacier Landmark”: On December 28, 2023, Mr. William Hung, CEO of Will Legend presented the “Third Pole Hong Kong Glacier Landmark” to the Dagu Glacier Management Bureau as a symbol of promoting cultural exchanges and ethnic integration between the Mainland of China and Hong Kong, and opening a new chapter of friendship between the people of the two places
13. Green-blueprint: The Green Blueprint is an initiative to unite all sectors to promote shared economic achievements, inclusive society, harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, and implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Climate Goals through the activities of conservation, education and Social-philanthropy
14. 3060 Dual Carbon Power: Carbon Peak in 2030 and Carbon Neutrality in 2060
15. Let the Glacier Cool: Will Legend is the founding organization of the “Let the Glacier Cool” Conservation and Education Programme
16. “Xi”: On June 12, 2024, President Xi Jinping delivered a video speech to the opening ceremony of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. President Xi pointed out that China will help implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

On December 28, 2023, Will Legend presented the “Third Pole Hong Kong Glacier Landmark”, a bridge of friendship between Hong Kong and the Mainland of China, to the Dagu Glacier Administration Bureau. From that moment on, Will Legend, the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Dagu Glacier Administration Bureau together launched the First in the Country Glacier Protection for Joint Action.

In April 2024, the first group of students embarked on the Third Pole 4860 Journey, where 128 students and teachers ventured into the embrace of the “White Giants.” By November of the same year, under the witness of the Let the Glacier Cool programme, a historic milestone was achieved — the first-ever sister school scheme was formed between a Hong Kong and a Sichuan school. This enriched Hong Kong students’ learning experiences, deepened their understanding of their motherland, and fostered the collaborative development of education between the two regions. Throughout 2024, a total of four schools set foot on the Third Pole 4860 Journey, stepping into the cryosphere to witness the alarming rate of glacial retreat caused by climate change. Through a specially tailored education and science experiment programme, led by Wang Feiteng, director of the Tianshan Glaciological Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, students actively engaged in the conservation of glaciers and the cryosphere.

On March 16, 2025, “2025 International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation” Dagu Glacier International Academic Summit Forum. Liss Marie Andreassen, President, International Association of Cryospheric Sciences; Qin Dahe, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, President of the Chinese Society of Cryosphere Sciences (CSCS); Yao Tandong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Co-chair of Third Pole Environment (TPE) Science Committee, President of the China Society on Tibetan Plateau; Feng Qi, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Director General of Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences. They delivered speeches in succession. The academic forum passed keynote reports, special reports, and the “Let the Glacier Cool” Initiative, safeguarding Glaciers, Glacial Water Resource, Cryosphere. William Hung of Will Legend, as the representative of Hong Kong, China, was also a co-organizer and member of the Scientific Committee. In the keynote speech delivered by the experts, Will Legend, from a perspective other than that of a scientist, proposed to guide the public to enhance their awareness of glacier protection through “Let the Glacier Cool” school talks and educational tours, corporate research trips and exchange meetings, provide exposure opportunities for scientific work, and attract more attention from the society and support from companies in terms of resources.

On March 17, 2025, a significant cryosphere-themed event was held, marking a milestone in bringing the Let the Glacier Cool Conservation and Education Programme to the motherland and onto the international stage. Will Legend connected the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinjiang Tianshan Glacier National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station (Tianshan Glaciological Station), Polar Research Institute of China, Ministry of Natural Resources, Dagu Glacier Administration Bureau and “Center for Glacier Research” of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, jointly promoted the “Let the Glacier Cool” Initiative on the Dagu Glacier. Through public participation, a group of scientists took action to call on more people to pay attention to global climate change. Glacier melting is not just about the balance of our ecosystem, it is also closely linked to global water security, and the climate stability!

Will Legend is very honored to be able to work with the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences as the initiator of the “Let the Glacier Cool” programme. Through our collaboration, we connect Hong Kong’s strength to the mainland of China and even to the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS), the International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS), etc., to jointly support climate action and protect endangered glaciers. The year 2025 represents an important milestone in glacier protection. This year is also the launching year of the United Nations’ “2025 International Year of Glaciers’Preservation”, the first “World Day for Glaciers” and the “Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences”. Will Legend hopes to unite the public and jointly promote “Let the Glacier Cool” as a platform for glacier conservation and education, a bridge connecting Hong Kong and the Mainland of China, and call on the world to take action to protect glacier water resources and the cryosphere.

“2025 International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation” Dagu Glacier International Academic Summit Forum. During the meeting, CCTV and Hunan TV were present to conduct interviews. Hong Kong representative William Hung and a group of scientists were interviewed about the impact of climate warming on glacier melting, and called on the public to protect the World’s Water Tower through low-carbon living, climate action and sustainable development goals. William said the reason for establishing the “Third Pole Glacier Journey” was to bring Hong Kong teachers, students, business and organization representatives to the Third Pole of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to experience the rapid melting of glaciers, so that they can more deeply appreciate the importance of protecting glaciers, glacial water source and the cryosphere. This is a practical action to implement glacier conservation. Through popular science, nature education and environmental conservation, the public can understand the importance of living in balance with nature. The “Let the Glacier Cool” Conservation and Education Programme founded by Will Legend made a historic appearance on the Central Radio and Television Station (CCTV13 News)’s special topic on glacier protection, fully reflecting the recognition of all sectors for the initiative.

CCTV13 News Interview Footage Source:
World Day for Glaciers – Chinese and foreign scientists responded to UN initiatives with various activities

The 2025 United Nations World Water Development Report (UN WWDR) focuses on mountain waters and their critical role as the world’s ‘water towers’. The report emphasizes mountains as essential sources of freshwater, vital for meeting basic human needs, ensuring food and energy security for billions of people both in mountain regions and downstream areas. The UN WWDR 2025 highlights the urgent challenges mountain water systems are facing, particularly the rapidly changing mountain cryosphere due to global climate change. The report draws special attention to the accelerating glacier melt, decreasing snow cover, and increasing permafrost thaw, which are making water flows from mountains more erratic and uncertain.

People living on the “Roof of the World” understand the value of clean water and pure land. There are many ancient glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau (the Third Pole, Asian Water Tower) including Xinjiang. Glacier is magnificent, but it becomes very helpless and vulnerable when it faces the enemy of climate change. Glaciers have a very important function, which is to regulate solid and liquid water (glacier accumulation and glacier ablation). Climate warming caused by greenhouse gases has accelerated the melting of glaciers and the meltwater from glaciers on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, eventually leading to rising lake levels and flooding grasslands and villages. Another situation is that, if the glaciers disappear due to rapid melting, the lakes and oases will also become dry land, and the livestock and local people that depend on it will not be able to continue.

With over 2 billion people depending on glacier and snowmelt for freshwater—and projections showing that one-third of glacier sites could disappear by 2050—raising awareness and taking action to protect these vital ecosystems is urgent. It is in this context and to celebrate World Day for Glaciers (21 March) and World Water Day (22 March) that UNESCO and partners are launching the 2025 edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report Mountains and Glaciers: Water Towers, which highlights the importance of mountain waters for the Planet. At the same time, it promotes Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6) – clean drinking water and sanitation to address the global water crisis.

World Water Day Calls for “Save Our Glaciers – the White Giants, Let the Glacier Cool”. Glaciers and Water belong to the same entity and complement each other. The cryosphere, composing glaciers, snow, ice and permafrost, plays an important role in regulating the Earth’s climate and ecosystem stability. The cryosphere is crucial for regulating sea levels and ensuring the supply of fresh water for billions of people around the world. However, as glaciers and ice sheets melt, the effects ripple across the globe, threatening water supplies and increasing the risk of catastrophic natural events.

The glaciers in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the huge glaciers in Xinjiang, such as the Qilian Mountains, Altai Mountains, Tianshan Mountains and Kunlun Mountains form clean glacial water sources. Here is the starting point of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River, the mother rivers of the Chinese, and also the birthplace of 13 rivers in Asia, including the Mekong River, the Indus River, and the Ganges River. There is also the only river in China that flows northward into the Arctic Ocean – the Irtysh River, originating from the Altai Mountains. There are 50,000 square kilometers of lakes, 100,000 square kilometers of glaciers, 300,000 square kilometers of perennial snow, and more than 9 trillion cubic meters of water resources, which involve the survival and development of more than 2 billion people, so it is called the “Asian Water Tower”. According to the traditional Tibetan saying, Mount Gangdise is the “father of all mountains” and Lake Manasarovar (Mapang Yongcuo Lake) is “the source of all waters”, all mountains and waters in the world originate from this place.

The “White Giants” is the guardian of the World’s Water Tower. The Urumqi River originates from the No. 1 Glacier near Tianger II Peak in the central Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang – Tianshan No. 1 Glacier. Preserving glaciers is vital for the well-being of individuals and communities worldwide. The World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) has selected more than 40 glaciers to represent mountain glaciers around the world, and Tianshan No. 1 Glacier is the only reference glacier located in China. Will Legend and the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences are promoting the sustainable management of glaciers and water resources through the “Let the Glacier Cool” programme to protect the Urumqi River, and the “Asian Water Tower”.

The “White Giants – Glaciers” play an essential role in the global water cycle, storing nearly two-thirds of all the freshwater on Earth — they are the World’s Water Towers. Will Legend “Let the Glacier Cool” calls for global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate global warming. Let the “World Water Tower”, “Asian Water Tower” continue to fulfill the mission given by nature and protect water, an important element of life for humans and living things.

Biological diversity resources are the pillars upon which we build civilizations. Fish provide 20% of animal protein to about 3 billion people; Over 80% of the human diet is provided by plants; As many as 80% of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional plant‐based medicines for basic healthcare. The United Nations established the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (also known as the Biodiversity Plan) with the purpose of promoting the belief of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. It is hoped that different countries, organizations, and sectors can support the implementation of diversity in their own ways.

Safeguard the last piece of pure land on Earth, let the glacier cool, let the ocean breathe, run through the pulse to wildlife corridor, draw a “Green-blueprint”, build a cradle of ecosystem, nurture biodiversity, make human health and prosperity sustainable. Will Legend protects glaciers and water resources, food and biodiversity, marine ecology and clean air through the Glacier, Land and Ocean Programmes respectively.

Regarding biodiversity, it is easier for the public to understand that there are many types of plants and animals, and a large number of microorganisms are included. But it turns out that real biodiversity also includes ecosystems such as glaciers, rivers, forests, lakes, deserts, grasslands and oceans. To put it simply, all species on the Earth are interconnected. Each ecosystem has different connections, interactions and influences, and in the end, a beautiful Earth can be achieved.

In August 2021, professor Wang Feiteng, a researcher at the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, member of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Global Cryosphere Monitoring Program (GCW) Expert Team and Third Pole Regional Climate Service Center (TPRCC) expert team member, led a team to the Dagu Glacier in Heishui County of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province to conduct experiments on slowing glacier melting. The energy required for glacier ablation mainly comes from the short-wave radiation of the sun. The absorption of short-wave radiation by glaciers mainly depends on the albedo of the glacier surface. In the two-month experiment, the melting speed of the glacier covered with insulating blankets was significantly slower. Compared with the glacier without any protective measures, the thickness of the melting slowed down to 1 meter.

From June 26 to September 17, 2023, researcher Wang Fei-Teng , doctoral candidate Xie Yi-Da and other scientific researchers formed a research team. Through field observations and numerical simulations, the study focused on the No. 21 Bailanghe Glacier in the Qilian Mountains and analyzed the coverage and future of the glacier. Differences in the matter and energy balance of the covered area were analyzed in depth. It was discovered that geotextiles could decrease ice melt by up to 1000 mm w.e. in comparison to the surface of glaciers without cover, primarily because of a 23% increase in albedo compared to ice, leading to a decrease in net short-wave radiation and available melt energy. The effect of covering the entire glacier with a geotextile, which has varying albedo properties, was also simulated. It was found that, with every 5% increase in the albedo of the geotextile, ablation was reduced by 10%–25%, resulting in a decrease in ice volume loss of approximately 2.5 × 105 m3. While artificially covering glaciers can reduce ablation rates, it faces challenges such as high costs, environmental risks, and issues with replicability. Ultimately, this study aims to analyze the feasibility of glacier coverage from a mechanistic perspective for glacier management amidst ongoing climate change. (“Advances in Climate Change Research” in October 2024)

On March 20 to 21, 2025, Chinese Glaciologists, Meteorologists and Expert Representatives, including Professor Yao Tandong, Professor Li Zhongqin, Professor Wang Feiteng etc., attended a High-level Event at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris to jointly celebrate the First World Day for Glaciers and World Water Day 2025, and Mr. Yao Tandong made a speech for Session 1 – Scientific Research: Cryosphere Observation and Modelling. As part of the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025, a joint celebration of the World Day for Glaciers and World Water Day highlights the accelerating threat of glacier melt and its impact on water security, communities and ecosystems. With glaciers melting at record rates, the joint celebration will highlight the importance of “White Giants” as guardians of the “World’s Water Tower” for the billions of people who depend on them.

Xinjiang Tianshan Glacier No. 1: The World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) has selected more than 40 glaciers to represent mountain glaciers around the world. Tianshan Glacier No. 1 is the only reference glacier located in China.

Sichuan Dagu Glacier: In 2024, Global Glacier Casualty List (GGCL) project highlights 18 renowned glaciers worldwide, chosen due to their impending disappearance and their significant scientific and economic value, to raise awareness on the drastic changes glaciers are undergoing and the urgency of their preservation. Dagu Glacier is the only glacier from China included in the list.

Will Legend promotes “Green-blueprint 1.5°C” to mitigate 1.5°C, safeguards the endangered “White Giants” and “World’s Water Tower”. What 1.5°C means and why it matters? Every fraction of a degree of warming matters. For some countries and vulnerable ecosystems, with every additional increment of global warming, changes in extremes and risks become larger. Under the Paris Agreement, countries agreed to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to enable the long-term global average surface temperature increase to be kept well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. Glacier, Land and Ocean draw the Will Legend’s “Green-blueprint” which connects different sectors to promote Green Economy, Climate Finance and Clean Energy to Respond to Climate Change.

The increasing emissions of greenhouse gases caused by human activities have led to global warming. The situation is like covering the Earth with a quilt, preventing heat from being reflected into space, causing the Earth’s temperature to rise. Currently, we are experiencing unprecedented rapid climate warming due to human activities, such as the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels. As the temperature rises, the Earth also begins to suffer from “illness”. The reason is that everything, and all living things on the Earth are closely intertwined with each other. Once nature loses its ability to balance, humans will not be able to survive alone.

Will Legend “Green-blueprint – Greenhouse Cooling Patch SDG7™” supports green economy, green financing (climate financing) and clean energy, reducing carbon emissions and responding to climate change. Will legends also supports the Belt and Road Initiative to cooperate with developing countries, especially in developing green energy industries (such as solar, wind and hydropower projects, and digital management to increase the proportion of renewable energy generation), agricultural production capacity and ecological construction cooperation, helping traditional industries to achieve green and low-carbon transformation, transforming them into green industries and building sustainable business models. At the same time, we also strongly advocate green enterprises, including new energy vehicles (NEV) and industry chains to deeply participate in the ESG work of society and the community, on the one hand, to practice corporate social responsibility (CSR), on the other hand, to achieve the policy of corporate economic sustainability, jointly accelerate the green forwarding process, enable the world to reduce carbon emissions faster, achieve the “3060” carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, and promote and promote sustainability of humans and nature.

Will Legend supports the three UN “Rio Conventions” as important cornerstones for addressing the climate crisis. With the nation’s continued development, China has ranked first in power generation capacity in the world. In 1949, the annual power generation was only 4.3 billion kilowatt hours. Today, the figure has reached 9.5 trillion kWh (over 2,000 times growth). What is even more amazing is that renewable energy already accounts for one-third of society’s electricity consumption. As the largest country in photovoltaic power generation, and wind power installed capacity, China’s development of green energy is an important measure to deal with global warming and climate change. Will Legend believes that plans organized and led at the social and community levels can be implemented more effectively. Through glacier, land and ocean conservation and education programmes, we connect different sectors to take actions to jointly respond to the pressing global challenges, so that the public and next generations will pay more attention to the “Health” of the Earth.

As the Third Pole of the Earth, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the storage of ice and snow second only to the Antarctic and Arctic. Half of the world’s population depends directly or indirectly on glaciers as a source of water for domestic use, agriculture and power generation. Glaciers are also the backbone of biodiversity and support numerous ecosystems. When glaciers melt rapidly, humans are at increased risk of natural disasters such as water shortages and floods. “Let the Glacier Cool” calls for global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate global warming, promotes the United Nations’ “2025 International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, World Day for Glaciers, World Water Day, and Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences” Initiatives. Let the “World Water Tower” and “Asian Water Tower” continue to fulfill the mission given by nature and protect water, an important element of life for humans and living things.

Glaciers at World Heritage Sites are melting at an accelerating pace, with a third of them set to disappear by 2050, according to new research released by UNESCO. These glaciers have been melting at an accelerated rate since 2000 due to rising temperatures caused by carbon dioxide emissions, according to a new study by UNESCO in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The Urumqi River originates from the No. 1 Glacier near Tianger II Peak in the central Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang – Tianshan No. 1 Glacier. Preserving glaciers is vital for the well-being of individuals and communities worldwide. The World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) has selected more than 40 glaciers to represent mountain glaciers around the world, and Tianshan No. 1 Glacier is the only reference glacier located in China. At the end of the eastern branch of Tianshan Glacier No. 1 at an altitude of about 3,850 meters, there is a huge ice tongue in the valley. The average thickness of the glacier is 50 meters, and the thickest part is 130 meters. Wang Feiteng, director of the Tianshan Glaciological Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that in the past 50 to 60 years, the glaciers here have been melting at a rate of 70 centimeters per year. It can be seen that on this ice tongue, the meltwater of the glacier has formed many large and small streams, which flow into the Urumqi River at the foot of the mountain. Researchers observe the glacier at regular intervals using ground-based 3D laser scanners.

Tianshan Glacier No. 1 is the earliest glacier to be observed in my country, with observations dating back 65 years. As one of the ten glaciers under global observation, it can well reflect the changes in glaciers in China and even the entire Central Asia. In order to better study glacier protection, Wang Feiteng led his team to carry out the first “Covering Glaciers with Blankets” experimental project in August 2023, and has achieved certain results. Currently, this type of experiment is only applicable to small glaciers with scientific research and tourism value. To truly slow down the melting of glaciers and fundamentally protect them, the world needs to work together to support green transformation, green financing (climate financing), clean energy and reduce carbon emissions to protect the environment, life and livelihoods from the worsening impacts of climate change (global warming).

As the third most popular glacier tourism site in China, Dagu is of great economic importance to its region. Sadly, over the past 35 years, Dagu has retreated by 76% and its area of glacial ice decreased from 2.10 km2 in 1989 to 0.5 km2 in 2023. The future is even more concerning. Based on modeling of the measurement data we have gathered over the years, we predict that Dagu Glacier, which currently covers less than 0.5 km², will disappear entirely by around 2030.

The Global Glacier Casualty List (GGCL) project was founded in 2024 through a collaboration between Rice University, the University of Iceland, the Iceland Glaciological Society, the World Glacier Monitoring Service, and UNESCO. The project contributes to the UN’s 2025 International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. The GGCL aims to remember the names and tell the stories of selected glaciers that are critically endangered or have already disappeared worldwide. Dagu Glacier is included as the only glacier in China and is expected to disappear by 2030.