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 aims to highlight the importance of glaciers and the urgency of halting their melting, calving and retreat on the Global Agenda. It seeks to advance global efforts in addressing glacier melt and its wide-ranging impacts through collaborative action, scientific innovation, and policy alignment.

The Conference will support the implementation of UN resolutions on the “International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025” and the “Decade of Action for Cryosphere Sciences, 2025–2034”, by mobilizing resources and fostering international cooperation. It aims to strengthen global partnerships among governments, scientists, civil society, and other stakeholders, with a focus on enhancing transboundary collaboration to preserve glaciers and their socio-economic benefits.

Key objectives of the High-Level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation include:

1. Advancing scientific research and monitoring to better understand glacier dynamics;
2. Mitigating the socio-economic consequences of glacier retreat, and
3. Promoting integrated adaptation strategies such as early warning systems and disaster risk reduction.

By linking water and climate agendas, the Conference aims to align glacier preservation efforts with global goals for water, energy, and food security. It will also raise awareness, mobilize resources, and leverage key frameworks such as the “Pact for the Future” to inspire transformative actions that ensure the resilience and sustainability of glacier-dependent communities and ecosystems.

1. Key Focus Areas:Promoting scientific research and monitoring. Advancing glacier and high mountain cryosphere science including Indigenous knowledge, technological innovations, and monitoring systems. These efforts will enhance understanding of glacier retreat dynamics and their impacts on ecosystems, water resources, and the global climate system.
2. Addressing socio-economic impacts of glacier melting. Examining the downstream socio-economic consequences of glacier retreat, including its effects on water availability, food security, hydropower, cultural heritage and sea-level rise. The conference will explore actionable solutions to mitigate these impacts and enhance the resilience of glacier-dependent communities.
3. Enhancing climate resilience and adaptation strategies. Promoting integrated approaches for adaptation and mitigation, including early warning systems, disaster risk reduction, and infrastructure solutions to manage water resources and prevent glacial hazards. The Conference will prioritize strategies that enhance community resilience, especially in vulnerable regions.
4. Raising awareness and mobilizing resources. Increasing global awareness of the vital role of glaciers preservation in ecological balance and socio-economic stability. The Conference will seek to mobilize financial and technical resources for glaciers preservation initiatives and facilitate the dissemination of best practices and transformative climate solutions.
5. Linking water, biodiversity, desertification and climate agendas for sustainable development. Highlighting the interconnection between water and climate agendas, while exploring opportunities to integrate glaciers preservation into broader efforts to address global water availibility, energy, and food security challenges. The Conference will promote the alignment of glaciers preservation initiatives with long-term development goals.
6. Catalyzing actions through key frameworks and partnerships. Leveragaging key global frameworks, such as the “Pact for the Future”, and strengthen partnerships and promote transformative actions in glaciers preservation. This includes creating pathways for collective action to mitigate the effects of glacier melt on global ecosystems and human well-being.

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.