As part of the International Year of Glacier Preservation 2025, the UNESCO Office in Ecuador, in collaboration with the Yaku Water Museum, organized an unforgettable experience for children in Quito. The highlight of the event was a special encounter with Iván Vallejo, the acclaimed Ecuadorian mountaineer and tireless advocate for mountain ecosystems.
During the event, Vallejo shared his personal experience as a mountaineer and a direct witness to the rapid retreat of glaciers in Ecuador and around the world. In a heartfelt and inspiring message, he invited the children to visit the glaciers, to understand their importance, and to take concrete action for their preservation:
“Glaciers are disappearing all over the world, and I’ve witnessed this firsthand in Ecuador, South America, the Himalayas, and Antarctica. It’s a global issue. I love climbing mountains, and even after 53 years, I still do it. The mountains have been my school of life—they’ve taught me discipline, humility, how to cope with failure, and the importance of training hard to reach the summit.
Today, it saddens me to see what’s happening to them. The snow-covered peaks I once knew are now just bare rock. That’s why I invite everyone, especially young people, to come closer to the mountains, to know them and love them. Only then will the genuine desire to protect them be born. If they disappear, we lose not only ice, but also history, biodiversity, and an irreplaceable part of our natural beauty,” said Vallejo.
Iván Vallejo is the most distinguished mountaineer in Ecuador’s history and a global figure in high-altitude climbing. In 2008, he became the seventh person in the world to summit all 14 of the Earth’s “eight-thousanders”—peaks above 8,000 meters—without supplemental oxygen. This remarkable feat places him among the elite of international mountaineering, known not only for his physical prowess but also for his mental resilience, leadership, and life philosophy rooted in harmony with the mountains.
As part of the symbolic close to the event, the children presented Vallejo with drawings and messages dedicated to the glaciers. He will carry these with him on an upcoming expedition to a high-altitude glacier, creating a symbolic bridge between children’s voices and nature, and reminding us all that we can be part of the solution.
The event also featured an interactive talk by Verónica Minaya, Natural Sciences Officer at UNESCO Ecuador. She explained in accessible terms why the disappearance of glaciers is not only a mountain issue:
“Glaciers feed rivers, support biodiversity, and regulate the climate. If they melt, it affects all of us—even if we don’t see them every day. They are essential to life, especially in Andean countries like ours,” she explained.
Minaya highlighted that Ecuador has lost more than 60% of its glacier ice in the last 50 years—an alarming figure that calls for greater awareness, urgent action, and sustained public policies to protect these strategic ecosystems.
The event is part of a national awareness campaign led by UNESCO and its partners (Yaku, IRD, INAMHI) to shed light on the critical state of glaciers and promote a culture of respect for water and the environment from early childhood.
This global commemoration, spearheaded by UNESCO worldwide, aims to mobilize governments, communities, youth, and scientists to uphold the right to water and a sustainable future for all.
