Dear Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich,
Your Excellencies, Heads of State,
Dear participants!
First of all, I would like to express my profound gratitude to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, His Excellency Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev for the invitation and traditional hospitality.
The Summit is taking place at a time when climate change, ecosystem degradation, water scarcity, and natural disasters are becoming serious challenges for our region and the entire world.
This, certainly, requires our concerted actions.
As it is known, up to 60% of Central Asia’s water resources are generated within our country.
This highlights the important role of Tajikistan’s mountain ecosystems in ensuring water supply and sustainable development of the region.
In this context, the accelerated melting of glaciers and the reduction of snow resources are of particular concern.
Out of Tajikistan’s fourteen thousand glaciers, more than one thousand three hundred have already completely melted.
The process of rapid glacier melting is intensifying worldwide, leading to disruption of the water balance, the emergence of environmental threats, and an increased risk of water-related natural disasters.
In addition, I would like to note the alarming trend of increasing frequency and duration of dust storms in our countries, which negatively impact public health and the environment.
In Tajikistan, more than sixty dust storms were recorded last year alone.
Their total duration was approximately seven months (216 days).
Meanwhile, back in the early nineties of the last century, the frequency of such weather phenomen was only two or three times a year.
Distinguished participants of the Summit,
Our country, within the framework of the Dushanbe Water Process, continues its consistent efforts to advance the global water and climate agenda.
Today, the UN Resolution on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” is in the stage of active implementation.
In the context of the declaration of 2025 as the “International Year of Glacier Preservation,” the first International High-Level Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation was held in Dushanbe last year.
It has become an effective platform for uniting the efforts of stakeholders and taking further steps on this topic.
Meanwhile, the UN Resolution proclaiming the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences (2025–2034) adopted on our initiative together with international partners is quite important.
We intend to establish in Dushanbe a Regional Center for the Study and Monitoring of Glaciers and the Cryosphere of Central Asia under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization.
We hope for the support of our partners in advancing this issue.
Dear Summit participants,
Today, many countries and regions of the world consider facilitating climate transition as a development priority.
Particular attention is paid to expanding the possibilities of using renewable energy sources.
Nations focus on improving energy efficiency and developing a low-carbon economy.
For Tajikistan, the development of hydropower and other clean energy sources is of a strategic priority.
In the current conditions, the mobilization of environmental investments and the introduction of market mechanisms to support green growth are essential.
In this regard, the Government of Tajikistan is issuing green bonds.
This is a significant step towards integrating the country into the global sustainable climate finance system.
We believe it would be appropriate to consider the possibility of a phased development of a regional carbon market in order to support efforts to reduce emissions and attract new investments.
The protection and rational use of biological resources is the most important step in addressing environmental challenges.
Based on this, Tajikistan has adopted a Program for Greening the Country until 2040.
It involves planting more than one billion trees to restore forest ecosystems.
It should be emphasized that over the years of independence, the total area of specially protected natural zones in the country has increased from 2.5% to 22% of the country’s total area.
In addition, Tajikistan is actively implementing different national programs and projects to preserve unique and rare species of mountain fauna.
These measures are aimed, in particular, at protecting and increasing the population of the snow leopard, one of the symbols of the mountain ecosystems of Central Asia, as well as the markhor – the mountain sheep, and the argali, known as the Marco Polo.
These and other efforts are aimed at protecting natural habitats and ensuring a respectful attitude towards nature.
Dear colleagues,
To improve the effectiveness of regional environmental cooperation, we advocate for the development of structural mechanisms and the development of coordinated regional positions on the international stage.
In this context, I would also like to note the importance of the Waste Management Center established in Dushanbe, which can be effectively used as a regional platform.
Dear Summit participants,
Today we will adopt a Joint Declaration of the Heads of State of Central Asia and approve the Regional Action Program 2030.
These documents will, undoubtedly, become yet another basis for the further development of environmental cooperation in the region.
It is gratifying to note that Tajikistan’s global initiatives consistently find support from our partners and serve as a foundation for advancing the shared interests of Central Asian countries globally.
The above-mentioned and other water and environmental issues will be considered at the Fourth High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable Development,” which will be held in Dushanbe late May this year.
Dear colleagues, we will be glad to see delegations from your countries in Tajikistan.
Thank you for your attention!
