DUSHANBE, 25.07.2024 (NIAT Khovar) – On July 24, the UN Headquarters hosted the meeting of the Group of Friends of Glaciers co-chaired by the Permanent Mission of Tajikistan and Argentina.

The Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan Bahodur Sheralizoda took part in the meeting and delivered a statement.

The Group of Friends of Glaciers was created last year at the initiative of Tajikistan and Argentina aimed at fulfilling the mandates outlined in the UN General Assembly resolution that declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. This resolution was supported by the international community based on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Emomali Rahmon.

During his speech, Sheralizoda provided information about the international initiatives of Tajikistan in the field of water and climate, especially the importance of glacier’s preservation and the negative impact of their rapid melting on the environment, as well as on the International Conference on glacier’s preservation, which will be held in Dushanbe in 2025.

He mentioned that the rapid melting of glaciers, which are one of the main sources of fresh water, requires the immediate attention of the international community.

It was said that Tajikistan, being one of the pioneers, made its financial contribution to the International Trust Fund in support of activities for glaciers’ preservation, which was established on the basis of the UN General Assembly resolution.

Consequently, countries and international organizations were requested to provide financial support to the Fund.

It was also proposed to establish the Regional Glaciological Center in Dushanbe and to conduct joint international level scientific expeditions in Tajikistan to analyze the status-quo of the existing glaciers.

Further, the participants were kindly invited to take part in the International Conference on Glacier’s Preservation, which is scheduled to take place in Dushanbe in 2025.

Participants mentioned the prominent role of the country in promoting glacier’s preservation issues and expressed their readiness to support Tajikistan in its glacier-related initiatives.