Glaciers and their peripheral frozen environments, as significant components of the cryosphere, are experiencing drastic and irreversible changes under climate change (IPCC AR6, 2023). Glacier retreat and intensified melting pose a threat to freshwater availability and induce hazards. Periglacial regions, encompassing ice-saturated frozen grounds known as permafrost, are abundant in water resources and are facing similar challenges to those of visible surface glaciers (Climate Change in Sápmi, 2023). These impacts are particularly pronounced in cold mountain regions in the Himalayas, Andes, Alps, and in the Arctic, where the livelihood and social-economic activities of local communities rely heavily on glaciers and permafrost (Carey et al., 2017; Crate et al.,2017). The retreat of glaciers and degradation of permafrost are not only a biophysical phenomenon but also a deeply social and political issue, impacting the livelihoods, cultures, and governance of communities who rely on these frozen waters. Understanding the multifaceted impacts of glacial retreat and permafrost degradation requires an interdisciplinary approach that bridges the divide between natural sciences and social sciences. This special collection, titled Melting Ice and Society: Unravelling the Sustainability Challenges of Glacierized and Periglacierized Environments seeks to create a space where these diverse perspectives can converge, fostering new insights into the socio-ecological complexities of glacial and periglacial changes.

While research has focused on the physical aspects of glacier melting and permafrost degradation—such as modelling and monitoring of glacial and periglacial processes—these need to be integrated with the socio-political dynamics that determine resource access, risk distribution, and decision-making authority. The key question is: how do these effects vary across different scales and communities, and ‘who gets what’ and who loses how and where’? This special collection aims to bridge this gap by exploring both the biophysical and socio-political dimensions of glacial and periglacial changes, with a particular focus on sustainability, equity, and justice. We also aim to include scholarship in the intersection of decoloniality and environmental defenders in glacier territories which often inhabited by indigenous communities and plural worldviews.

At the core of this collection lies a set of critical questions: How do natural systems—glaciers, permafrost, rivers, and ecosystems—interact with social systems—communities, governments, and economies? Who benefits from water resources and infrastructure development, and who bears the costs, especially in terms of disaster risk and environmental degradation? How do power relations, governance structures, and cultural narratives influence adaptation strategies in glacierized and periglacerized regions? How do indigenous communities of glacierized areas define adaptation, coping and climate change? These questions call for an interdisciplinary exploration that not only looks at glaciers and permafrost as environmental features but also considers them as socio-political objects, deeply embedded in the lives, identities, and power structures of the people who live around them.

 The interdisciplinary nature of this special collection is key. We seek contributions that combine natural science approaches—such as hydrology, glaciology, permafrost research, and climate science—with social science frameworks—including sustainability, political ecology, anthropology, and sociology. This blending of disciplines is crucial for capturing the full range of impacts that glacial change has on both ecosystems and societies. For example, studies that analyse the consequences of glacier declining and permafrost degradation must also consider how these changes influence local governance, land use, and socio-economic inequalities. Similarly, research on the cultural significance of glaciers and permafrost for indigenous and local communities can engage with the biophysical realities of glacial and periglacial dynamics to propose holistic, sustainable solutions. In that context, we encourage pluralistic methodologies & approaches studying glacierized and periglacial landscapes such as indigenous knowledges for a more inclusive dialogue that acknowledges the multiplicity of experiences futures linked to these vulnerable environments. By integrating these methods & approaches, the issue will offer a comprehensive understanding of how glacial and periglacial change reshapes not just the physical environment but also the social, political, and cultural fabric of glacierized and periglacial regions.

 Key Topics (but not limited to): 

- Glacial retreat, permafrost degradation and social change

- Agent based modelling and future visions for glacier communities

- Permafrost and infrastructure

- Climate justice and environmental defenders of glaciers

- Water resource management and conflict

- Policy frameworks and governance in glacial and periglacial regions

- Development projects and disaster vulnerability, risk and management

- Indigenous knowledge and climate adaptation

- Navigating trade-offs of climate change in relation to glaciers and permafrost

- Inter-/trans-disciplinary methodologies and pluralistic approaches including mountain cosmologies of glaciers

 

Ultimately, “Melting Ice and Society” aspires to advance glacial and permafrost research through interdisciplinary collaboration, addressing the sustainability challenges facing glacierized environments in the 21st century. We invite scholars from both natural and social sciences to contribute their insights, fostering a holistic understanding of the complex interactions among glaciers, societies, and ecosystems in a rapidly changing world.

 

Submission Guidelines:

Please select the ‘Melting Ice and Society’ option from the special issue dropdown.

 For detailed manuscript preparation instructions and submission guidelines, please refer to "Instructions" for Authors. 

 

All manuscripts need to be submitted no later than 31^st May 2025 (submit your paper here).

If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact Alison Paskins (Publisher for Global Sustainability).

 

Guest Editor

Mine Islar (University of Lund, Sweden)

Yongmei Gong (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway)

Mayank Shah (University of Lund, Sweden)