A high-level plenary session was held in Samarkand as part of the climate forum, where environment ministers from Central Asia’s countries and Mongolia discussed joint actions to combat the triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution.
Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan (CfEP), Bahodour Sheralizoda, emphasized in his speech that only coordinated actions among the countries of the region will allow for an effective response to the consequences of climate change, land degradation, and the loss of ecosystems.
He identified climate change adaptation as the top priority and highlighted the region’s vulnerability to global environmental threats: the rapid melting of glaciers, increased frequency of natural disasters, soil degradation, and the disappearance of unique species.
According to the Committee for Environmental Protection, Sheralizoda also called for the rational use of natural resources, the restoration of degraded lands, and the expansion of transboundary protected natural areas.
He placed special emphasis on the upcoming International High-Level Conference on Glacier Preservation, which will take place from May 29-31, 2025, in Dushanbe. The event is being organized at the initiative of President Emomali Rahmon within the framework of a UN General Assembly resolution and will be the first global platform fully dedicated to the protection of glaciers as sources of freshwater.
The session was attended by representatives from the environmental agencies of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, and international organizations, including the FAO.
Participants stressed the need to strengthen regional cooperation and develop joint strategies to address environmental challenges.
Key areas of focus included the implementation of sustainable water-saving technologies and public awarene0ss campaigns.
The Samarkand Climate Forum, held on April 4–5, served as an important international platform for discussing sustainable development and the protection of Central Asia’s natural heritage.
The next step will be the conference in Dushanbe, which is expected to result in specific international recommendations on glacier conservation and the protection of water resources in mountain regions.
