President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan sounded the alarm on the nation's vanishing glaciers, attributing the loss to the escalating impacts of global warming, at the event of "Global Action to Preserve Glaciers" in Dubai.
President Rahmon painted a concerning picture, stating, "Over the past decades, more than 1,000 glaciers have melted in Tajikistan, leading to an unprecedented increase in the number of natural disasters."
This rapid glacial retreat has far-reaching consequences, with a significant portion of Central Asia's water resources, approximately 60%, flowing from the glaciers and snow reserves in Tajikistan.
The president underscored the urgency of the situation, proposing comprehensive research and monitoring to accurately gauge the impact of climate change on the region's glaciers. In his plea, he suggested considering the establishment of a regional center for monitoring and studying glaciers in Tajikistan.
President Rahmon referenced the 2019 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Oceanic and Cryospheric Climate Change, which grimly predicted the potential disappearance of a third of the world's glaciers by the end of the century. This ominous trend is not exclusive to Tajikistan, as glaciers globally face a perilous future due to rising temperatures.
Highlighting the broader implications of glacial loss, President Rahmon emphasized,
"Since glaciers play an important role in protecting the environment and solving economic and social problems in all regions of the world, their melting is a concern for everyone on the planet."
The president further drew attention to the alarming melting observed not only in mountainous regions but also in the Arctic and Antarctica. This broader trend contributes to a rise in ocean water levels, posing a threat to the well-being of hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
In response to the escalating crisis, President Rahmon announced a proactive step towards raising awareness and fostering international collaboration. He declared that an international high-level conference on glacier conservation will be held in Dushanbe in 2025, aiming to bring together global stakeholders to address the pressing issue of glacial decline.
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