On August 18, 2026, an International Scientific and Practical Conference was held in Dushanbe on the topic “35 Years of State Independence of the Republic of Tajikistan: Development and Strengthening of Weather and Climate Monitoring and Glacier Protection in the Context of Climate Change.”
The conference was attended and addressed by Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Sulaimon Ziyozoda, Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan Bahodur Sheralizoda, Member of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan Zarafо Kiyomizoda, representatives of international organizations accredited in Dushanbe, as well as development partners.
In his speech, Deputy Prime Minister Sulaimon Ziyozoda noted that during the years of state independence, the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, has put forward a number of international initiatives in the fields of water resources, climate, and glacier protection. These initiatives call upon the international community and leading international and regional organizations to pay greater attention to water, climate, and glacier-related issues and to take timely and effective measures in these areas.
Climate change is one of the most serious global challenges of our time, significantly affecting the environment, water resources, and the socio-economic development of countries. For the Republic of Tajikistan, more than 93 percent of whose territory is mountainous, the impacts of climate change are particularly severe.
It was noted that climate change is manifested in the accelerated melting of glaciers, changes in weather patterns, an increase in the frequency and intensity of hazardous weather events, as well as growing climate-related risks to the population and key sectors of the economy.
During the international conference, Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan Bahodur Sheralizoda emphasized that the Republic of Tajikistan plays an important role in ensuring water resources for Central Asia. A significant portion of the region’s water resources originates within the country, with glaciers and seasonal snow cover being among their main sources.
Under these conditions, particular importance is attached to the development of modern meteorological monitoring systems, improvement of observation networks, implementation of innovative monitoring and forecasting technologies, and expansion of scientific research in the field of the cryosphere.
It was emphasized that for more than two decades, the Republic of Tajikistan has initiated a number of international initiatives in the areas of water resources, climate change, and glacier protection, which have received broad support from the international community. The adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of resolutions proclaiming 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, establishing World Glaciers Day, and declaring the “International Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences (2025–2034)” highlights the growing importance of scientific cooperation and joint action to preserve the cryosphere.
Representatives of government institutions, scientists, international organizations, development partners, and climate experts participated in the International Conference “35 Years of State Independence of the Republic of Tajikistan: Development and Strengthening of Weather and Climate Monitoring and Glacier Protection in the Context of Climate Change.”
The participants discussed issues related to glacier protection, adaptation to climate change, modern meteorological monitoring and forecasting systems, and sustainable water resources management, and put forward practical proposals. International scientific cooperation was also discussed, with an exchange of views on international dialogue, prospects for sustainable climate development, meteorology, and cryospheric sciences.
Participants emphasized that the conference serves as an international platform for constructive exchange among representatives of government authorities, scientific and educational institutions, international organizations, financial institutions, the expert community, and development partners on improving meteorological monitoring, advancing cryosphere research, implementing modern observation and forecasting technologies, increasing resilience to climate risks, and strengthening international cooperation in the context of global climate change.
At the conclusion of the conference, the development of practical recommendations for improving meteorological monitoring, advancing scientific research, protecting glaciers, increasing resilience to climate risks, and further developing international cooperation in the field of climate change was discussed.
As an international platform, the conference contributed to the exchange of knowledge and best practices in the fields of climate change and glacier protection, as well as the development of joint practical solutions for advancing meteorological monitoring, enhancing climate resilience, and strengthening international cooperation in the context of global climate change.
