Kirti Vardhan Singh Attends the Conference on Glaciers in Dushanbe

Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh, attended the High-Level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation at Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The Conference was held from 27 to 31 May 2025. 

The Conference was held to highlight the danger of receding glaciers and their consequences for the world’s fresh water resources.

It brought together policymakers and experts from around the world to discuss glacier preservation and formulate a coordinated action plan to address climate change, which is threatening glaciers.

Organiser of the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation 2025

The Government of Tajikistan organised the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 in association with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO),  World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the Asian Development Bank.

Background to the International Conference on Glacier Preservation 2025

In 2022, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation.

UNESCO and the WMO were given the responsibility of organising activities regarding the International Year of Glaciers and raising awareness about the role of glaciers in water resources.

The United Nations declared 2025-2034 the  Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences.

The Cryosphere refers to the glaciers, ice sheets, snowpack, permafrost, and sea ice.

Also, Belem in Brazil will hold the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in November 2025.

The United Nations wants to reach an international agreement or understanding with the countries before they meet at Belem.

Aim of the Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation 2025

• To highlight the importance of glaciers and their role in water resources, and generate awarness about their conservation.
• Highlight the danger global warming is posing to glaciers. Worldwide, there is an increasing rate of melting and retreating glaciers.
• The world's largest glacier outside the polar region, Vanj yakh, in Tajikistan, has retreated by over 1 km in the past 70-80 years.
• To preserve glaciers, a global partnership among the government, civil society, and scientists must be forged.
• Advancing scientific research and monitoring to better understand glacier dynamics and promote integrated strategies, such as early warning systems and disaster risk reduction.
• Mobilise financial resources to conduct research in glacier preservation and cryosphere preservation.

About Tajikistan 

It is a Central Asian country that was once part of the Soviet Union.

Capital: Dushanbe 

Currency - Somoni 

President- Emomali Rahmon

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)

Established - 1945

Headquarters - Paris, France,

Member -195

 World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) 

Established - 1950

Headquarters - Geneva, Switzerland

Member- 193