Following the resolution that declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation and 21 March as World Day for Glaciers starting in 2025, the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan will convene an International Conference dedicated to the preservation of glaciers, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from 29 – 31 May 2025.

The conference will start with welcoming messages from H.E. Mr. Qohir Rasulzoda, Prime-Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan, Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, and Professor Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of WMO.

This event is organized by the Government of the Republic of TAjikistan, and whose partners include UNESCO, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Goals

The “High-Level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation” event will spotlight the urgent need to protect glaciers and address their rapid melting, retreat, and calving. It aims to support UN initiatives like the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 and the Decade of Action for Cryosphere Sciences (2025–2034) by promoting scientific collaboration, resource mobilization, and policy coordination.

The conference will unite governments, scientists, civil society, and other stakeholders to:

• Advance research on glacier dynamics and impacts;
• Address socio-economic effects of glacier retreat;
• Promote adaptation strategies, such as early warning systems and disaster risk reduction.

Key focus areas include:

• Enhancing cryosphere science with technology and Indigenous knowledge;
• Mitigating impacts on water, food, hydropower, and cultural heritage;
• Strengthening climate resilience in vulnerable regions;
• Raising awareness and funding for glacier preservation;
• Integrating glacier protection into global climate, water, and development agendas;
• Catalyzing action through frameworks like the Pact for the Future.

The goal is to inspire global cooperation and sustainable solutions for glacier-dependent ecosystems and communities.

MRI Sessions at the “High-Level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation” Event

The MRI Mountain Observatories Working Group lead Maria Shahgedanova will be representing the MRI at this event, and will give presentations at these two Technical Sessions:

TS7 | Glacier Monitoring Needs Worldwide: Advancing the Monitoring of Glaciers Through Regional Collaboration and Innovative Solutions
Co-organized by: WMO, Tajikistan, IAEA, MRI, and FMI

To discuss the challenges and opportunities of mountain observations and of glaciers, in particular, this session will take a focused approach on Central Asia and with comparisons to other regions of the globe.

The session will include an overview of glacier monitoring, a presentation on the opportunities for space-based monitoring of the cryosphere in high mountains and polar regions, and will discuss the unique Gorbunov meteorological station at the Vanzh-Yakh glacier, at close to 5000m elevation, proposed to be reestablished as a WMO CryoNet station.

The session will evaluate the status of long-term meteorological observations in high mountains, where most are managed as part of research projects tied to specific funding-cycles, providing datasets that are often non-continuous and of limited duration, as are those run as part of the Central Asia Mountain Observatory Network (CAMON). The session will examine opportunities for improving the usefulness of these datasets for long-term trend analysis by bringing together data from different sources through standardization and interoperability, e.g. through the WMO Information System, and the need for long-term commitments through government supported programmes and for regional collaboration.

The session will also discuss the need for sustainable satellite observations of high-mountain regions in Central Asia, and globally, and the need for validation and calibration using ground-based observations.

The legacy data collected at Gorbunov meteorological station and of CAMON stations are of eminent value to improve climate change monitoring in high mountain terrain and an invaluable high-altitude ECV’s for the Pamir. The station provides a good example for the challenges facing most mountain countries. The continuity of operation of this station requires innovative solutions and strong collaborations. Once implemented, it will provide an excellent opportunity to develop best practices which would be beneficial at regional and global scale.

This session will contribute to the Conference theme on Promoting Scientific Research and Monitoring, which focuses on advancing glacier and high mountain cryosphere science, technological innovations, in support of the dynamics of glacier retreat and its impacts on ecosystems, water resources, and the global climate system.

TS2 | From Glaciers to Sea: Glaciers, Snowpack and Water Availability in a Changing Climate
Co-organized by: MRI, Norway (Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate), Japan, Tajikistan, IPCC scientists (primarily WGII)

Shrinking glaciers and snowpack have a significant effect on downstream areas, both in the immediate vicinity of the glaciers or many hundred kilometres downstream. Areas that are relatively arid (e.g. Central Asia, northern Pakistan, western Peru), are especially dependent on getting enough meltwater for agricultural use and at the right time of the year for their crops. For many mountain countries hydropower is an important source of energy and/or foreign income from energy exports, but also affected by changing in water supply as the cryosphere changes.  

This session examines the socio-economic impacts of glacier and snow melt in different regions of the world, and considers how IYGP can be used as a springboard to focus on the challenges faced by communities and identify solutions.

One of the critical areas identified as a main focus for IYGP is: Promoting sustainable water resource management in glacier-dependent regions. As glaciers and snowpack shrink, with the rate of change increasing from one decade to the next, it is essential that IYGP and relevant partners, ranging from national governments to local communities, find ways to increase the attention given to populations that are highly dependent on cryosphere meltwater, to arrive at sustainable and climate resilient solutions.

Dates and venue

The High-Level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation will take place from May 29 to 31, 2025, in Dushanbe. The opening ceremony will be held on Friday, May 30, 2025, at 09:00 at the “Kokhi Somon” Complex, located at 122, Rudaki Ave., Dushanbe.

The venues of the pre-conference events, including forums and side-events, will be determined at a later stage. Details will be included in the official program and published on the official conference website.

Access to the “Kokhi Somon” Complex and pre-conference event venues will be restricted to participants with conference badges.

Programme

The Conference programme includes opening and closing ceremonies, Plenary sessions, Leaders’ Round Tables, Pre-Conference Forums, and Thematic Sessions focusing on glaciers in relation to climate change mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage; research and monitoring needs, and solutions for mitigation, resilience and adaptation planning. The Pre-Conference Day (May 29) will include Forums, Side Events, and cultural activities, providing diverse opportunities for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and engagement.

While the official conference website continues to be updated, you will find a preliminary programme here.

Registration

In order to ensure safety and timely resolution of logistical issues, and to avoid false registrations, a registration fee has been introduced for participation in the High-Level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation.

The registration fee is 100 US$. Participants who are unable to pay the registration fee may contact the Conference Secretariat by e-mail: secretariaticgp2025@mfa.tj. The Secretariat will consider the possibility of free registration for such participants, in case of a positive decision a special link for free registration will be sent to them within 10 days.

There is no registration fee for members of official delegations that are invited on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, as well as members of the International Advisory Board and their alternates. A special link will be sent to them via official channels, following which they will be directed to the free registration page.

Citizens of the Republic of Tajikistan are also exempt from the registration fee and shall receive a registration confirmation from the Conference Secretariat.

In addition, there is no registration fee for representatives of the media. Registration of media representatives will be carried out based on their request and upon receiving confirmation from the Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Key dates:

1. 15.03.2025 – Opening of registration 
2. 01.05.2025 – Deadline for free registration 
3. 10.05.2025 – Closing of registration

Costs that the Government of Tajikistan covers for conference participants:

1. Visa;
2. Meetings and farewells at the airport;
3. Providing local transport: from the airport to the hotel and vice versa upon departure, from the hotels to the conference venue and the other way around, and during the excursion on June 1. Detailed information will be provided closer to the conference dates;
4. Meals: coffee breaks and lunches on the conference dates, an official reception on behalf of the Government of Tajikistan on May 30, as well as a light lunch during the excursion on June 1;
5. Internet services (Wi-Fi);
6. Equipment for printing materials in small amounts;
7. Cultural program, including a concert during the official reception.

Click here to access the registration page on the official conference website.

More information will become available as the official conference website continues to be updated.

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Cover photo by Oziel Gómez on Unsplash.