The article discusses the Fifth Initiative of the Founder of Peace and National Unity — Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, regarding the proclamation of 2025 as the "International Year for the Preservation of Glaciers."
Taking into account the exceptional importance of this far-sighted initiative by the Head of State, the author proposes the establishment of centers within higher professional educational institutions of the republic to study the Leader of the Nation’s initiatives related to water, climate, and glacier protection. These centers would allow students to gain comprehensive information about these initiatives.
Keywords: desertification, climate, glacier melting, industrial waste, International Year for the Preservation of Glaciers, Fifth Initiative.
The Leader of the Nation’s global initiatives to address water and climate challenges, based on scientifically grounded observations and evidence, are aimed at solving the global issues of humanity and are currently supported by the majority of the international community.
The necessity for these initiatives arises from a deep awareness of the seriousness of national and global problems, such as the rapid melting of glaciers and desertification processes in various countries. Global climate change is accelerating the melting of Tajikistan’s glaciers. Over the past 50 years, approximately 1,300 out of the country's 14,000 glaciers have completely melted. This is an alarming trend, as Tajikistan’s glaciers are not only a water source for the region but also play a critical role in maintaining climate stability.
According to expert estimates, if all the glaciers on Earth were to melt, sea levels would rise by up to 64 meters. This would result in the flooding of a significant part of the planet and the disappearance of life in many cities and countries, creating severe challenges for humanity worldwide.
Current data indicates that more than 3 billion people worldwide already suffer from a shortage of clean water, and it is projected that by 2025 this number will approach 4 billion. Moreover, between 800 and 900 children under the age of five die every day due to a lack of clean water.
In this context, the Tajik people can take pride in the fact that the Fifth Initiative of the wise and visionary Leader of the Nation, Emomali Rahmon, to declare 2025 the "International Year for the Preservation of Glaciers" was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 14, 2022, with the support of 153 countries.
Indeed, this initiative holds significant historical value and is truly unique. In addition to declaring 2025 as the International Year for the Preservation of Glaciers, March 21 will henceforth be observed annually as the “International Day for the Preservation of Glaciers,” starting in 2025. Moreover, a special fund has been established within the UN structure to finance glacier protection efforts.
It is especially worth noting that within the framework of this initiative, an International Conference on Glacier Preservation will be held this year in the capital of the Republic of Tajikistan.
The Government of Tajikistan, based on the Fifth Initiative of the Head of State, is already taking effective measures to address this global issue, such as reducing industrial emissions (greenhouse gases, aerosols) and implementing green energy (environmentally clean energy) solutions.
According to international financial organizations, Tajikistan ranks among the top six countries in the world in terms of the share of green energy production, which accounts for 98% of its total energy output. This represents Tajikistan’s contribution to mitigating the destructive effects of global warming and advancing environmental initiatives at the regional and global levels.
Considering the importance of addressing glacier melting and other climate-related issues, annual funding for these programs exceeds USD 400 million.
Thanks to the efforts of the Head of State, 98% of the Republic of Tajikistan’s electricity is currently produced from water resources. The country ranks sixth in the world in the production of green energy from renewable sources. It is planned that by 2032, Tajikistan will fully transition to generating electricity from renewable energy sources.
It is gratifying to note that the public, especially the scientific and educational communities of the republic, are already actively implementing the Leader of the Nation’s directives on studying his global initiatives. In this regard, the establishment of the Center for the Study of Global Initiatives of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, on water and climate issues at Khorog State University named after M. Nazarshoev is a significant achievement. The center is equipped with modern teaching and research tools and staffed by leading experts and experienced educators.
The center was established within the framework of the President’s initiatives to declare 2025 the International Year for the Preservation of Glaciers and March 21 the International Day for the Preservation of Glaciers — an initiative adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 14, 2022.
The center's primary objective is to study Tajikistan’s global initiatives, especially the international proposals of the Leader of the Nation on water resource protection and climate change mitigation.
Strengthening national identity and fostering patriotism are also among the center’s most important missions. Through real-world examples, young people are introduced to the contributions of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in addressing major environmental issues.
Additionally, the center conducts scientific research on sustainable water management, disaster risk reduction, and climate adaptation. The achievement of all these goals is directly linked to training personnel and educating youth in this field. Accordingly, the center will enhance the knowledge of students and researchers in water and climate sciences through seminars, training sessions, and international cooperation.
It would be highly appropriate to establish similar educational centers in other academic institutions, where the global initiatives of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, on water and climate issues would be comprehensively studied — both from the perspective of Tajikistan’s environmental policy and the preparation of specialists in this field.
