DUSHANBE, 15.12.2022 (NIAT Khovar) – Yesterday, during its 77th session, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted Tajikistan’s initiative to declare 2025 — International Year of Glacier Protection, reports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This is one of the unique resolutions because it includes both the declaration of an International Day and an International Year. Another of President Rahmon’s initiative was adopted with the support of 153 UN members.

Back in March 2021, during the first meeting of the coalition leaders on water climate, President Rahmon said that the rapid melting of glaciers, along with increased water consumption, which depends on population growth and economic development, could lead to negative consequences.

With this in mind, he proposed to focus on this issue at the international level.

On the basis of this resolution, the proposals made by President Rahmon received support from UN members, including:

— Declaring March 21 as the International Day of Glacier Protection.

— Declaring 2025 as the International Year of Glacier Protection.

— Establishing an International Trust Fund at the UN to promote the glacier protection.

– Holding in 2025 the International Conference on Glacier Protection in Dushanbe.

The resolution highlights the importance of glaciers as an integral component of the hydrological cycle and the serious impact of their accelerated melting on climate, the environment, human health, and sustainable development.

The document also highlights that the effects of global warming have led to a significant shrinkage of the creosphere, leading to reduced resilience in high mountain regions and changing the amount and season of flow and water resources in snow and glacier river basins. This factor results in the decline in local agricultural production, the increase in water scarcity and the rise in mean sea level.