Ministers of Ecology from Central Asian countries and Mongolia discussed joint measures to combat the triple planetary crisis - climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution - during a high-level plenary session at the Climate Forum in Samarkand, reports Asiaplus.tj.
Bahodur Sheralizoda, Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan, emphasized in his speech that only coordinated regional efforts can effectively counter the consequences of climate change, land degradation, and ecosystem loss.
He identified climate adaptation as a top priority and highlighted the region's vulnerability to global environmental threats, including rapid glacier melting, increased natural disasters, soil degradation, and the extinction of unique species.
According to the Committee for Environmental Protection, Sheralizoda also called for the rational use of natural resources, restoration of degraded lands, and the expansion of transboundary protected areas.
He placed special emphasis on the upcoming High-Level International Conference on Glacier Conservation, scheduled for May 29–31, 2025, in Dushanbe. The event, initiated by President Emomali Rahmon under a UN General Assembly resolution, will be the first global platform dedicated to glacier protection as a source of freshwater.
The session was attended by representatives of environmental agencies from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Mongolia, as well as international organizations, including FAO.
Participants stressed the need for stronger regional cooperation and the development of joint strategies to tackle environmental challenges.
Key focus areas included the implementation of sustainable water-saving technologies and public awareness initiatives.
The Samarkand Climate Forum, held on April 4–5, served as a major international platform for discussions on sustainable development and the protection of Central Asia’s natural heritage.
The next step in this direction will be the Dushanbe conference, where concrete international recommendations on glacier conservation and water resource protection in mountainous regions are expected to be developed.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
April 7, 2025