DUSHANBE, 12.11.2024 /NIAT “Khovar/. On November 12, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation, esteemed Emomali Rahmon, took part and spoke at a high-level event in the city of Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, on the implementation of the United Nations General Assembly resolution declaring 2025 the “International Year of Glacier Conservation”, which was organized and held by Tajikistan.
The President of our country, the respected Emomali Rahmon, called the holding of this event an important step in the process of implementing the United Nations resolution and emphasized that its main goal is to prevent further melting of glaciers and preserve their ecological systems.
It was noted that glaciers, which together account for 75 percent of the world’s major freshwater resources, are rapidly shrinking under the impact of climate change. Therefore, urgent collective action by the world community was deemed necessary to address this important global issue.
The head of state noted that it was precisely taking into account the importance of this issue that, at the initiative of Tajikistan and with the support of the international community, a resolution of the UN General Assembly was adopted declaring 2025 the “International Year of Glacier Conservation”. Based on this resolution on the conservation of glaciers, the International Trust Fund for Glacier Conservation was also created under the auspices of the UN.
It was noted that our country, on the basis of this United Nations resolution, will hold the first International Conference on Glacier Protection in Dushanbe in May 2025.
The President of the country noted that the UN General Assembly, along with the announcement of the International Year of Glacier Conservation, in August of this year, on the initiative of Tajikistan and France, adopted another resolution declaring 2025-2034 the “Decade of Action to Support Cryospheric Sciences.”
This important decision was taken with the aim of continuing effective actions to preserve glaciers and raising awareness of the global community about this pressing issue.
It was suggested that multilateral cooperation and exchange of experience and knowledge should be enhanced between glacier-rich and riparian countries in order to take urgent practical measures to conserve glaciers.
According to the Head of our state, the respected Emomali Rahmon, this step can play an effective role in the process of combating water shortages and rising sea levels. At the same time, it was considered important to attract global financial resources for this purpose, including the Special Fund for the Preservation of Glaciers.
It was considered necessary for the Green Climate Fund to give priority to supporting vulnerable countries, especially the group of landlocked developing countries that are most affected by the impacts of climate change.
The country’s President Emomali Rahmon also proposed the establishment in Dushanbe, under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization and in cooperation with other development partners, of a Regional Coordination Centre for Glaciology to accurately study the impact of climate change on the region’s glaciers.
It was noted that Tajikistan, despite its huge fresh water resources, including glaciers, lakes and rivers, constantly pays special attention to water-related problems.
“Our country has identified among the priorities of its state policy topics related to water resources, their rational and efficient use, as well as the preservation of glaciers,” said the Head of State, the respected Emomali Rahmon.
In conclusion of his speech, the Head of State expressed hope that the results of today’s summit will make a significant contribution to enriching the content of the events of the 29th UN Climate Change Conference, and in the future, the world community will pay special attention to the concerns of all countries on issues related to melting glaciers, water shortages and the risks of natural disasters.
The Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, H.E. Shahbaz Sharif, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jayhun Bayramov, the World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia, Ms. Antonella Bassani, the Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization, Ms. Celeste Saulo, the Assistant Director-General of UNESCO, Ms. Lidia Brito and experts from other authoritative global and regional organizations also took part and spoke at this important event organized by Tajikistan. In particular, the Head of our state, H.E. Emomali Rahmon, and officials from Tajikistan expressed gratitude for holding this important event, as well as for effective global efforts to preserve glaciers and fresh water.
