DUSHANBE, May 11, Asia-Plus – Glaciers in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, forming more than 80 percent of the total volume of flow of rivers in the Central Asian region, are melting as a result of changes in climate.
Tajik Deputy Finance Minister, Jamshed Norinov, remarked this at the ongoing 15th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) at UN Headquarters in New York.
He expressed concern about serious ecological problems and attendant socioeconomic circumstances that could be in store for the region in future.
Jamshed Norinov drew attention of those present to the problem of deficiency of water resources in his country and the region as a whole. “Water is a key factor of socioeconomic well-being of our countries and we realize that this deficiency will increase, especially with regard to the population growth and global climate change,” the deputy minister said.
According to him, Tajikistan has great reserves of water and power resources. At present Tajikistan is using only 5 percent of these reserves that is one of reasons for considerable electrical power shortage in the country.
Norinov added that Tajikistan seeks international assistance and cooperation in the fields of rational use of water and energy resources and expansion of opportunities of use of renewable energy sources. He spoke for extending access of developing countries to new modern energy-saving technologies.
Norinov called for support for study of the glacier dynamics in the Central Asian region.
The 15th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development is held at UN Headqaurters in New York between April 30 and May 11 2007. This is the second, or policy year of the second implementation cycle during which the Commission will continue its focus on the following areas: Energy for Sustainable Development; Industrial Development; Air pollution/ Atmosphere; and Climate Change.
The event has consisted of two high-level panel discussions. The panels have consisted of experts from government, business, civil society and international organisations. The first panel has examined the broader issues around sustainable industrial development including how to measure and move towards economic, social and environmental sustainability in industry. The second panel has focused on ways to promote the efficient use of energy by industry, and the importance of doing so to promote economic growth and tackle climate change.
The session has also discussed the relatively new concept of chemical leasing and how it can help to reduce the use of chemicals in industrial processes.
