The living glacier: Cultural memory, emotional impact, and the right to exist in the Andes

Glaciers are rapidly retreating worldwide due to anthropogenic climate change, with severe implications not only for ecosystems and water security but also for cultural memory, emotional wellbeing, and environmental justice. In the Andes, glaciers are more than reservoirs of ice—they are living beings within Indigenous cosmologies, ancestral knowledge systems, and everyday life. This essay explores the cultural, emotional, and symbolic dimensions of glacial loss, focusing on Andean communities who view glaciers as sacred entities. The sacred dimension of glaciers in many Andean communities also involves legal implications to claim just presents and futures especially for young generations. Building on interdisciplinary perspectives and Rights of Nature frameworks, it argues that glaciers should be recognized not only for their ecological functions but also as more-than-human beings with rights to exist, regenerate, and be protected. The essay critically examines historical and structural responsibilities for glacial retreat—from colonial legacies to the inaction of both Global North and South governments, as well as extractive industries—while advocating for accountability mechanisms such as the proposed international crime of ecocide. At the same time, it highlights local and youth-led initiatives, such as URKUWAMBRA in Ecuador, that foster intergenerational and intercultural knowledge transmission, helping to reimagine responsibility and climate action. Ultimately, the essay calls for an ethical and political shift: to honor glaciers while they are still alive, and to reshape human relations with nature through humility, reciprocity, and caring practices.