Tajikistan, heavily reliant on glaciers for its water supply, voiced alarm over the accelerating loss of glaciers and called for urgent global action during the event held at the United Nations Headquarters on March 21.
The session brought together high-level representatives from Tajikistan, the United Nations, UNESCO, WMO, and other key organizations to address global water-related challenges. Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirojiddin Muhriddin highlighted that global glacier loss in 2023 surpassed all records over the past 50 years, with 600 gigatons of water loss. He warned that Tajikistan’s 1,300 glaciers have already faced complete extinction. Emphasizing their role as the “water tower of the region” for Central Asia, he underscored the severe threat of water reserve depletion due to rapid glacier melt.
The minister stressed the borderless impact of climate change, urging global cooperation, concrete actions following the 2023 UN Water Conference, and active participation in the 2026 and 2028 UN Water Conferences. He also stressed the growing recognition of the “Dushanbe Water Process” as a key platform for promoting sustainable water management and climate adaptation, reinforcing Tajikistan’s leadership in addressing the crisis.
Participants received updates on preparations for the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation, set for 29–31 May 2025 in Dushanbe. The event aims to promote dialogue on glacier loss solutions and strengthen global cooperation. Key outcome documents, including the Dushanbe Declaration, Chair’s Summary, and Dushanbe Call, are expected to shape the COP30 agenda in Brazil.
Indeed, the threat is real for the region. According to the Korean-based Green Climate Fund, snow and glacial melt water are the primary source for producing hydropower that generates 98% of Tajikistan’s electricity. The cost of negligence is going to be very high.
The expected-to-rise annual price of land degradation is already estimated to be around $325mn. With the climate-change related problems affecting infrastructure, livestock productivity, and agriculture, the GDP of the country could decrease by 5-6% by 2050.
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