The Government of Tajikistan is hosting the International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation from 29 May to 1 June 2025 in Dushanbe to highlight the urgency of halting glacial retreat and to raise it to the top of the global climate agenda.
The conference will culminate in the release of the Dushanbe Glaciers Declaration-a landmark document outlining actionable commitments, collaborative initiatives, and strategic recommendations to be presented at the UN Climate Change conference, COP30 in Brazil.
Prime Minister of Tajikistan Mr. Kokhir Rasulzoda said: "This conference represents a significant step in implementing the United Nations resolution declaring 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation. Glaciers, which account for 75% of the world's freshwater resources, are vanishing due to climate change. Urgent and collective global action is essential to confront this crisis."
The Asian Development Bank, UNESCO, UN Development Programme and World Meteorological Organization are partners in organizing the conference in Tajikistan.
"The WMO State of the Global Climate 2024 report revealed that for the third consecutive year, glaciers retreated in all 19 regions. Five of the past six years have witnessed the most rapid glacier retreat on record," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
"The death of a glacier is more than just the loss of ice. We need to strengthen glacier monitoring and protection through models and observations. We need more data sharing and more political will. We need to bridge science and services and forecasts and action," she said.
At the conference, Celeste Saulo will emphasize that glacier monitoring, research, and related services in high mountain and polar regions are critical priorities for WMO. Observing, predicting, and effectively communicating glacier changes are vital to mitigating their impacts on people, economies, and ecosystems.
The melting of glaciers increases risks of hazards such as landslides and glacial lake outburst floods, while also disrupting hydrological and ecological systems. The Early Warnings for All initiative, co-led by WMO in collaboration with many partners, aims to enhance protection against these hazards, fostering resilience for communities worldwide.
