The ‘International Glane Conservation Conference’ held from 29 to 31 May 2025, the capital of Tajikistan, attempts to catch the world’s attention towards rapid melting glaciers.
The conference, organized in collaboration with international organizations like the United Nations, Asian Development Bank and UNESCO, will be presented on ‘Dushambe Ghiriad Declaration’, the promise of concrete and strategic recommendations will be presented on COP 30.
The glacier crisis melts quickly
According to the United Nations Partner Organization ‘World Hemds of Monitoring Service’, last year, the Swallbird Islands in Scandinavia, Norway and the North Asian glaciers have recorded the most ice loss so far.
Glaciers have lost 9,000 billion tonnes of mass (mass) since 1975, while Greenland and Antarctica’s ice sheets do not include.
Not only does the melting water crisis show the crisis of water resources, but it also increases the risk of catastrophe like landslides and lake explosions.
According to the World Materiological Organization (WMO) report, the limitations have been transferred to a record level in the last six years and the biggest glacier damage has been noticed so far between 2022 and 2021.
WMO general secretary Celest Solell emphasized the need to share data and build a bridge between political will. He warned that the melting of the glacier was not just a loss of ice, but a serious threat to human life, economy and ecosystem.
Glacier
Worldwide, more than 2 million glaciers over 2 million glaciers covers about 7 million square kilometers and about 70 percent of their worldwide fresh water, including ice sheets.
According to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2021, the hilly areas provide about 60 percent of the world’s annual freshwater supply.
More than two billion population in the world depends directly on the water from the mountains. In these regions, areas such as Shepherd, Forest, Tourism and Hydropower Production are dependent on water-based activities.
However, the situation is serious today. In the rural hills of developing countries, more than half of the people are facing food insecurity, women and children are the most affected. Hill glaciers, irrigation, biodiversity and rapid melting of water protection are having a huge impact.
The role of the United Nations and aspects
UN Resident Coordinator (RCO) Parvati Ramswamy in Tajikistan told UN News that Tajikistan’s efforts were declared as “International Hospital Conservation Years” in 2021.
He said, “This conference will promote scientific innovations, consistent policies and cooperative steps to prevent the melting, breakdown and retreat process of glaciers.”
Parvati Ramswamy said that Tajikistan glaciers are an important source of agriculture, hydropower and drinking water. “The UN supports scientific research in the region and is working with the government to reduce the impact of climate change.”
Talking about the efforts of the local community, he said that he was being strengthened by training and technology to strengthen the intelligent use of water, especially women, children, children, disabled and youth.
Expectation from the conference and the way forward
Parvati Ramaswamy said, “This conference will recognize glaciers as a global climate and development challenge.”
Its purpose is to restructure border cooperation, proper allocation of financial and technical resources and rebuild national strategies.
He said, “The UN is committed to the fact that glaciers should be part of a broad technique to deal with climate change and help to protect and enrich life on earth.”