28 September 2026
On November 18, a high-level event was held in Belém as part of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), initiated by the Republic of Tajikistan and the High-Level Panel "Ambition on Ice" (AMI). The event focused on the accelerating loss of the global cryosphere.
The event was opened by COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev in Azerbaijan and Icelandic Minister of Environment, Energy, and Climate, Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson, who emphasized that preserving glaciers and snow cover is key to ensuring the stability of water resources, protecting coasts, preventing the risk of dangerous climate change, and maintaining ecological balance.
Leading scientists presented the latest data showing that cryospheric melting is occurring faster than expected and is exceeding adaptation limits in many regions.
A roundtable discussion followed with ministers and representatives from Chile (Ministry of Environment), the Kingdom of Monaco (Ministry of Public Works, Environment, and Urban Development), Fiji (Ministry of Environment and Climate Change), Nepal (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock), Liberia (Environmental Protection Agency), Pakistan (Ministry of Climate Change), Bangladesh (Ministry of Finance), Georgia (Ministry of Environment), and the Asian Development Bank. Countries shared their experiences in managing glaciers, sea level rise, and other risks associated with cryospheric instability.
Participants emphasized the need to integrate cryospheric issues into national adaptation and resilience strategies, particularly in the context of achieving the 1.5°C target, as well as to expand monitoring, early warning, and financial support for the most vulnerable countries. The event particularly recognized the contribution of the Republic of Tajikistan to the International Year of Glaciers (2025), which is heightening global attention to the problem of rapid glacier melt.
The event concluded with a call for increased global climate ambitions without the use of risky geoengineering methods, in order to avoid irreversible tipping points for glaciers, ice sheets, and ocean currents.
