Shamsiddin Karimov
At the initiative of the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, March 21 was declared the International Day for the Protection of Glaciers and 2025 the International Year of the Protection of Glaciers, and a decision was made at the United Nations to establish an International Trust Fund to contribute to the protection of glaciers and to hold an International Conference on the Protection of Glaciers in Dushanbe in 2025.
This initiative of President Emomali Rahmon is truly of great importance for humanity and our planet, as it is aimed at protecting nature and water resources, as a whole, at protecting human life on our planet.
The role of glaciers in improving people’s lives is important in several ways:
- Source of Fresh Water: Glaciers are the main source of fresh water. Glacier water is part of the composition of rivers, lakes and groundwater, which is important for the well-being of people. Glaciers are the main source of fresh water in Central Asia, including Tajikistan. The country’s major rivers, such as the Syr, Zarafshan and Panj, originate from glaciers. In fact, glaciers are compressed ice that has stored water reserves for years, melting in the summer and filling rivers. Rapid melting of glaciers can lead to a shortage of fresh water throughout the year, as glacier water reserves decrease over time. For example, in Tajikistan, glaciers provide more than 61 cubic kilometers of water to rivers annually;
- Climate Regulator: Glaciers play an important role in the formation of water resources, regulation and monitoring of climate change, and are considered climate regulators and guarantors of the Earth’s climate balance. The decline of glaciers accelerates climate change, which poses many risks to human well-being. Glaciers are an important source of water for ecosystems during dry and hot years. The melting of glaciers contributes to climate regulation, as they participate in the hydrological cycle and affect weather conditions in different regions;
- Energy Source: Glacier water also plays an important role in the production of electricity, which is important for the energy supply of the population. There are more than 9,000 small and large glaciers in the Republic of Tajikistan, with a combined area of 8,024 km². In Tajikistan, 95% of electricity is produced through hydroelectric power plants. The country’s large glaciers, such as Fedchenko, Garmo, Bivachi, Savukdara Kalon, Grum-Grzhimailo, Mazordara, etc., are located in mountainous areas and form the main water resources not only of Tajikistan, but also of the entire Central Asian region. These waters are used in hydroelectric power plants and are the main source of electricity for the country. Therefore, the role of glaciers in the formation, development and sustainable development of the country’s economy is significant;
- Environmental Protection (Ecology): Glaciers also play a major role in protecting nature and the environment. The decline of glaciers can affect ecosystems and endanger human well-being. Glaciers play a particularly valuable role in maintaining the Earth’s climate balance. They affect the climate in various ways. For example, glaciers have the quality of thermal inertia, which helps regulate the temperature of the climate. Glacier ice absorbs the Sun’s heat energy and stores it in the form of ice, which helps lower the Earth’s average temperature. Glaciers also contribute to maintaining climate moisture, ecological balance, and affecting sea levels. For example, melting glaciers cause sea levels to rise, which increases the risk of coastal flooding.
What are the political dimensions of glacier conservation? Promoting a strong political framework at the national, regional and international levels will help to address glacier conservation, climate change adaptation, sustainable water resources management and disaster risk reduction strategies in a more transparent and concrete way.
Addressing glacier conservation as a policy component will provide increased financial support and resources to support glacier monitoring and management of the impact of climate change on glacier melt and its consequences.
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Finally, a clear policy for glacier conservation will prepare the ground for engaging the global community, particularly political leaders and policymakers, international organizations and research institutions, to work together to identify and sustain strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on glaciers, while building capacity and capacity to better study and monitor, understand and predict changes as a prerequisite for adaptation.
In our view, the political elements of glacier conservation include:
International Cooperation
Conferences and Summits: Organize international conferences and summits are proposed for glacier protection, such as the High-Level International Conference in Dushanbe, scheduled for 2025 and expected to be held in May of this year.
International Trust Fund: It is necessary to establish an International Trust Fund to contribute to glacier protection.
Establishment of Special Foundations
International Glacier Conservation Foundation: Establishment of a special international glacier conservation foundation is proposed.
Declaring International Years
Declaring 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers, with the aim of drawing global attention to the conservation and sustainability of glaciers is a major step. In addition, such initiatives highlight the important role of mountain regions as a major source of fresh water and ecosystem services. Ultimately, declaring an International Year of Glaciers will help raise awareness among the world’s people about the important role of glaciers in the climate system and the hydrological cycle.
Cooperation Between Countries
Between glacier-bearing countries and coastal countries: Cooperation between glacier-bearing countries and coastal countries is suggested to take immediate practical measures to protect glaciers.
On the other hand, glacier protection policy includes various political, legal and international measures aimed at protecting these strategically important natural resources and includes various national and international measures and events. For example, at the national level, such measures may include:
Improving Legislative System
Adoption of special laws, such as the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On the Protection of Glaciers”, is necessary, which establishes glaciers as the exclusive property of the state and defines the main principles of their protection, including the priority of ecological systems and the encouragement of scientific research;
Establishment of the Glacier Protection Fund financed by international grants and other sources would also support the cause.
Organization and Regulation of State Programs
In Tajikistan, the “State Program for the Study and Protection of Glaciers for 2010-2030” was adopted in 2010, and in 2017, the “Center for the Study, Monitoring and Protection of Glaciers” was established, which is aimed at studying, researching and monitoring the state of glaciers and their protection.
Economic Initiatives
The development of “green energy” and increasing energy efficiency contribute to reducing the anthropogenic impact on glacier ecosystems.
International Level Measures
Cooperation with the UN and its Various Agencies:
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring 2025 the International Year of Glaciers. This initiative includes the establishment of an International Trust Fund to promote glacier conservation and the holding of an international conference in Dushanbe.
Ratification and approval of International Treaties:
Tajikistan joined the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (1998) and ratified the Kyoto Protocol (2008), which allows for the integration of glacier conservation issues into the global climate agenda.
Regional Cooperation
Cooperation between Central Asian countries to efficiently use water and energy resources, reduce carbon emissions, and jointly address environmental problems is essential.
Likewise, the initiative of President Emomali Rahmon on the protection of glaciers has also played an important role in raising the international image of Tajikistan. First of all, the wide international recognition of these initiatives testifies to the growing influence and prestige of Tajikistan on the world stage. In fact, the Republic of Tajikistan demonstrates its awareness of global issues, such as climate change, and its readiness to address them at the international level.
Read More: PM for Global Action To Protect Glaciers for Survival
The holding of a high-level international conference on glacier protection in Dushanbe not only draws the attention of the world community to the problems related to climate change and glacier protection, but also more clearly presents the capital of our country to the world as an international center of concentration of progressive forces and important political, social and cultural meetings.
Indeed, the subsequent development and development of water diplomacy, initiated and led by President Emomali Rahmon, as a new phenomenon in the system of modern international relations, has turned Tajikistan into a key player in the field of efficient use of water and other natural resources, environmental protection, and has further increased its political influence and prestige at the global level.
Thus, the initiative of the Leader of the Nation to protect glaciers is of particular importance for the protection of humanity on Earth and the improvement of their lives, and its consideration as an important and integral part of national and international policies will further facilitate the implementation and realization of such fateful initiatives and program.
*Shamsiddin Karimov is a Doctor of Political Sciences and a Chief Researcher in the Department of US and Canadian Studies at the Institute for the Study of Asian and European States, National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan.*
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