IUCN Director General's message to the Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Resilience, Glacier Preservation, and Water Cooperation Forum

Your Excellencies, Ministers, 

Distinguished delegates, esteemed colleagues, valued partners, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a real privilege to address this crucial High-Level Conference on Glacier Protection. Gathering here in Dushanbe, in the heartland of Central Asia, a region whose destiny is so profoundly interwoven with its magnificent glaciers, and during this pivotal International Year of Glacier Preservation, gives our discussions a special resonance. And makes the conversations we are having here today not just timely, but critical. 

Today, I want to focus on the indispensable foundation for success in our shared mission to conserve nature by strengthening stakeholders’ partnerships for glacier preservation, climate adaptation, and community engagement in regional water cooperation.

These majestic glaciers – our planet’s vital “water towers” – are more than symbols of natural beauty; they are lifelines for millions. Today, they face growing pressure from a warming climate. 

But, we have hope, because in every challenge lies an opportunity. The changes we are witnessing, including the loss of an estimated 273 billion tons of glacier ice globally each year, remind us of the urgency — and also of our shared responsibility to act.

In Central Asia, the glaciers of the Tian Shan and Pamir ranges have long sustained the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, nurturing agriculture, energy, and communities. As these glaciers recede, we are called to innovate, to adapt, and to come together.

The way forward is clear: progress will not come from isolated efforts, but from strong, inclusive partnerships — partnerships that bridge borders, unite diverse voices, and combine science, policy, and local knowledge.
Together, we can turn this moment of crisis into one of collaboration and resilience.

And we must step up now. 

Preserving our glaciers begins with understanding them. 

This requires a strong alliance between scientific institutions, national governments, and international bodies. We need collaborative monitoring, data sharing, and joint research to accurately assess glacier dynamics and predict future changes. 

IUCN, through its global network of scientists, experts, and partners, is proud to help shape the world’s understanding of our rapidly changing cryosphere. We are not just producing knowledge — we are connecting it directly to action. By bridging the gap between cutting-edge science and policy, we ensure that decision-makers are equipped with the insights and tools they need to protect our planet’s frozen lifelines.

The International Year of Glacier Preservation offers a powerful opportunity to deepen these collaborations. It is a rallying call to strengthen scientific cooperation, share data, and build a truly global picture of glacier health.
Initiatives like the Regional Working Group on Glacier Monitoring and Modelling in Central Asia are leading the way — creating the foundation for informed, united, and effective responses across borders. Because only together, through science and solidarity, can we meet the challenge before us. 

And here I want to stress this, the real, lasting impact comes about only when we come together as one voice for nature. We must build strong partnerships for Climate Adaptation, and come together to adapt to our changing world together.

While we intensify efforts to mitigate climate change – the root cause of glacier melt – we must also acknowledge that a certain degree of change is now inevitable. Adaptation is not a choice but a necessity. And successful adaptation requires an even broader coalition of partners. Governments, civil society organizations, the private sector, and international development agencies must work in harmony to develop and implement effective adaptation strategies.

IUCN champions Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as a core component of climate adaptation. Restoring high-altitude wetlands, managing forests sustainably, and implementing ecosystem-based approaches can enhance water regulation, reduce disaster risks, and improve the resilience of both ecosystems and communities. 

For instance, investing in healthy upstream ecosystems can significantly bolster downstream water security. This work inherently demands partnership – with local communities who manage these lands, with businesses that can invest in sustainable practices, and with governments that can create enabling policy frameworks. 

As an example, The Asian Development Bank's "Glaciers to Farms" programme, which aims to promote sustainable water use, exemplifies the scale of ambition needed in such partnerships.

Ultimately, the success of our efforts hinges on the active and meaningful engagement of those most directly affected, local communities, women, and youth. They are not just stakeholders; they are rights-holders and indispensable partners in achieving long-term water security and effective glacier protection.

Transboundary water cooperation, especially in shared basins like those fed by Central Asia's glaciers, is paramount for stability and shared prosperity. Initiatives like Blue Peace Central Asia, in which IUCN is a proud implementing partner alongside the International Water Management Institute and the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program, are vital for fostering dialogue, building trust, and promoting joint solutions. 

This initiative, supported by Switzerland, underscores how shared water resources can become a catalyst for peace and cooperation, fostering dialogue and strengthening water governance across this very region. It demonstrates that shared water resources can be a source of common prosperity rather than contention. The focus of its next phase on hydrodiplomacy, climate adaptation, and the inclusive engagement of youth and women is precisely what is needed.

Let me emphasise this: this cooperation must be deeply rooted in community engagement. Local communities possess invaluable traditional ecological knowledge, offering insights into long-term environmental changes and sustainable resource management practices. Women, as primary water managers in many households and agricultural settings, bring unique perspectives and priorities that must be integrated into decision-making. Youth, as the inheritors of our planet, bring innovation, energy, and a powerful moral voice demanding sustainable solutions. 

IUCN's BRIDGE (Building River Dialogue and Governance) programme actively works to make these connections, fostering multi-level dialogues that bring national authorities together with local water user associations and community representatives. By ensuring that the voices of women, youth, and indigenous groups are heard and their needs addressed, we build more equitable, effective, and enduring water governance frameworks. UNESCO’s "Adventures in Science: Women and Glaciers in Central Asia" program is another excellent example of fostering the engagement of future leaders. 

This High-Level Conference in Dushanbe is more than a meeting; it is an opportunity to forge and fortify the partnerships that will define our success. As we move forward, let us commit to:

1. Deepening Scientific Collaboration: Enhance support for joint monitoring, research, and data-sharing initiatives to provide a robust scientific basis for glacier preservation efforts.
2. Broadening Adaptation Coalitions: Actively engage the private sector, civil society, and diverse government agencies in developing and financing innovative climate adaptation strategies, with a strong focus on Nature-based Solutions. 
3. Embedding Community Engagement in Water Cooperation: Ensure that transboundary water cooperation frameworks are inclusive, participatory, and responsive to the needs and knowledge of local communities, women, and youth.
4. Mobilizing Resources through Partnership: Leverage collective strengths to unlock new streams of finance and technical expertise, ensuring that resources reach the ground where they are most needed.

Excellencies, the glaciers of Central Asia and around the world are more than just ice; they are a shared heritage, a critical resource, and a powerful symbol of our interconnectedness with the natural world. Their retreat is a stark warning, but it is also a call to action – a call for courage, for innovation, for inclusion and for unprecedented collaboration.

IUCN remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting these partnerships, to fostering dialogue, and to providing the knowledge and tools needed to navigate this complex journey. Let us leave Dushanbe with renewed determination and a shared roadmap for action, built on the enduring power of collaboration.

Let this Dushanbe Conference be remembered as a moment when we collectively rose to this challenge, when we committed to safeguarding our frozen heritage to secure a flowing, sustainable future for all. IUCN stands ready to continue working with all of you to achieve this vital goal.

I hope that as you continue to have important meaningful conversations today, you remember this:  Real change begins when diverse voices rise as one — for nature, for people, for our shared future. The glaciers are calling. Let’s answer, together.

Thank you.
 

Committee for Environmental Protection of Tajikistan

Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Resilience, Glacier Preservation and Water Cooperation

More: 

IUCN at the Glaciers’ Preservation Conference

IUCN in Central Asia