UNDP Unites Mountain Nations to Share Practices for Glacier Preservation

UNDP Tajikistan brought together voices from Pakistan and Nepal at the High-Level Conference on Glacier Preservation to share bold, innovative solutions to glacier loss and GLOF Risk Reduction.

June 12, 2025
A speaker addresses an audience at an international conference, with scenic mountains in the background.

President Emomali Rahmon is opening the High-Level International Conference on Glacier Preservation, taking place in Dushanbe from 29 to 31 May.

Office of the President of Tajikistan

The High-Level International Conference on Glacier Preservation, held in Dushanbe from 29 to 31 May, convened over  2,500 participants from 80 countries, including global experts, policymakers, and development partners. UNDP supported the Conference Secretariat, contributing to the event’s organisation, outreach, and visibility. 

Opening the conference, President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, drew global attention to the accelerated melting of glaciers—one of the most pressing environmental crises of our time—describing it as an unprecedented phenomenon in human history.

Tajikistan, home to more than 60% of Central Asia’s glaciers, which cover 6% of the country's territory, is experiencing the profound impact of glacier retreat. President Rahmon emphasised that this alarming trend threatens not only the region’s natural heritage but also the lives and livelihoods of millions. He called on the international community to strengthen cooperation in monitoring and preserving glaciers, proposing the establishment of a regional glaciological laboratory in Tajikistan and the launch of an international scientific expedition.

The country’s glaciers play a crucial role in maintaining water security and climate stability, not just for Central Asia but also in contributing to the global climate balance.

A large group of diverse individuals posing together on a red carpeted staircase.

President Emomali Rahmon pictured with heads of state, ministers, UN leaders, and development partners during the High-Level International Conference on Glacier Preservation in Dushanbe.

Office of the President of Tajikistan

Thanks to Tajikistan’s leadership and sustained advocacy, 2025 has been declared the International Year of Glacier Preservation, with 21 March designated as World Glacier Day. The conference also highlighted the establishment of a UN Trust Fund for Glacier Protection, reflecting the urgency of resources needed for global action.

A recent landmark study—co-authored by over 35 research teams and more than 450 glaciologists and climate scientists worldwide—revealed that since 2000, the world’s glaciers have lost around 5% of their total mass. In Central Asia, where glaciers serve as a critical water source for 70 million people, the loss is even more severe—8.5%. These figures are more than mere statistics; they are a call to urgent action to mitigate climate change and adapt to its accelerating impacts.

According to UNEP projections, over 50% of Central Asia’s glaciers could disappear by 2050. In Tajikistan alone, more than 1,000 of the country’s 14,000 glaciers have already vanished in the past three decades, undermining fragile ecosystems and threatening water availability across the region.

UNDP is actively contributing to this effort. Through its wide-ranging portfolio of climate change mitigation and adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction initiatives, promotion of renewable energy, and biodiversity conservation, UNDP brings innovative approaches to some of the world’s most complex development challenges.

As part of its contribution to the conference, UNDP Tajikistan invited two experts from UNDP country offices in Pakistan and Nepal—countries that share similar climatic and geographic characteristics with Tajikistan and face comparable challenges related to glacier loss. Their presence underscored the importance of regional collaboration in addressing this shared and escalating threat.

Two men in professional attire standing at a booth displaying maps and information.

From left to right: Deepak KC, Climate Change and Resilience Programme Analyst at UNDP Nepal, and Shiraz Ali Shah, Head of the Climate Change team at UNDP Pakistan, speaking to the media about Pakistan’s efforts at the High-Level Conference on Glacier Preservation in Dushanbe.

Nigora Fazliddin/ UNDP Tajikistan

Why Pakistan and Nepal?

Pakistan, Nepal, and Tajikistan are among the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In 2022, Pakistan experienced catastrophic floods that affected over one-third of the country and caused losses estimated at USD 30 billion. Similarly, Nepal has faced increasing climate-related disasters in recent years. For instance, the 2021 Melamchi flood, triggered by intense rainfall and glacial melt, caused widespread destruction in Sindhupalchowk District, displacing thousands and washing away critical infrastructure. The recent GLOF (August 24, 2024) in Thame village in the Everest Region swept away an entire village, including one school, one health post, five hotels, and seven homes. 

Tajikistan, home to over 13,000 glaciers and steep mountainous terrain, is also highly prone to climate-induced disasters. The country regularly experiences floods, landslides, and mudflows linked to glacial retreat and extreme weather. One of the most severe recent events occurred in 2021, when intense rainfall caused flash floods and mudslides in the districts of Farkhor and Panj, damaging homes, farmland, and infrastructure. In 2015, GLOFs and debris flows in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) devastated entire villages and underscored the region’s vulnerability to rapidly melting glaciers.

In all three countries, climate change is driving erratic weather patterns, extreme temperatures, and the accelerated retreat of glaciers. These shifts are significantly increasing the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and other hydro-meteorological hazards in mountainous regions, putting lives, ecosystems, and economies at risk.

Indigenous Glacier Preservation Techniques - Pakistan

In Pakistan, UNDP has been supporting federal as well as local governments, institutions, and communities to improve preparedness and response capacities through its ongoing projects funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), China, and Italy. These projects adopt an integrated approach, combining modern solutions with the documentation and implementation of indigenous practices for glacier preservation.

Man in a suit speaking into a microphone at a conference with displays in the background.

Shiraz Ali Shah speaks with media about Pakistan's practice to preserve glaciers.

Nigora Fazliddin/ UNDP Tajikistan

Shiraz Ali Shah, Head of the Climate Change team at UNDP Pakistan, exchanged knowledge with colleagues from other countries on UNDP Pakistan’s experience in GLOF preparedness, management, and response, as well as efforts to preserve and protect glaciers in Pakistan.

“My presentation focused on indigenous glacier preservation techniques that UNDP has documented and implemented under the umbrella of our ongoing projects,” he said. “These include glacier grafting, ice stupas, and avalanche harvesting.” 

These experiences were received with great interest by participants from different countries, who were keen to learn more about these local practices and explore whether they could be implemented in their contexts.

Indigenous glacier preservation techniques — such as glacier grafting, ice stupas, and avalanche harvesting — are simple, community-led solutions to tackle climate change in mountain areas. Glacier grafting aids glacier growth by moving ice from shaded spots to higher altitudes. Ice stupas are cone-shaped ice towers made in winter that melt in summer, providing water for farming. Avalanche harvesting involves collecting snow from safe avalanches and storing it in designated areas, where it slowly melts to refill water sources. These low-cost, local techniques use traditional knowledge and support UNDP’s work to build climate resilience.

Integrated Watershed Management-Based GLOF Risk Reduction Practices – Nepal

Deepak KC, Climate Change and Resilience Programme Analyst at UNDP Nepal, delivered a compelling account of Nepal’s integrated, localised approach to glacier preservation—one rooted in science, community action, and lived experience.

He described Nepal’s watershed-based climate adaptation model, which the country is piloting across several regions. This model brings together bioengineering, drone seeding for degraded slopes, conservation farming, and water recharge ponds—not as isolated interventions, but as a holistic system of resilience.

A man in a traditional Nepali hat speaks at a conference, with a camera in foreground.

Deepak KC shares insights about the conference and Nepal's experience shared.

Nigora Fazliddin/ UNDP Tajikistan

“In one watershed alone, we saw a 70% drop in landslide risk after implementing bioengineering techniques and engaging local women’s groups in slope rehabilitation,” he shared, highlighting how practical, low-cost solutions rooted in local ownership are making a real difference.

Deepak also emphasised Nepal’s proactive work on GLOF prevention, citing successful examples of lake-lowering interventions and community-based early warning systems.

“We’ve installed sirens, hydro-met stations, and trained hundreds in evacuation drills. When water levels rise, communities don’t panic—they respond,” he said, describing a recent test that helped avoid loss of life in a high-risk area.

The presentation underscored the connection between glacier loss and human security—how melting ice upstream threatens food, energy, and livelihoods downstream. Nepal is countering this through innovations such as solar lighting, improved cookstoves, conservation ponds for rainwater harvesting and water recharge, and climate-friendly agricultural practices in climate-vulnerable areas.

Finally, he stressed the importance of policy alignment and climate finance, mentioning how Nepal’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and NDC 3.0 now include Nepal's commitment to reduce national GHG emissions to be carbon neutral by 2045 as well as highland watershed protection and ecosystem-based adaptation with nature-based solutions and climate change adaptation measures.

Nepal’s model, as shared in Dushanbe, is more than just a national effort—it’s a roadmap for mountain countries facing similar climate-driven threats.

South-South Cooperation 

By bringing the voices and expertise of countries like Pakistan and Nepal to the forefront, UNDP Tajikistan not only fostered South-South cooperation but also showcased the power of shared innovation and local solutions in addressing one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time. With its global presence in more than 170 countries, UNDP can bring good practices in other countries to Tajikistan’s efforts to tackle climate risks. 

Meeting participants seated around a wooden table, engaged in discussion.

Participants of the side event “Pathways to Action: Tackling Super Pollutants for Glacier Preservation” are listening to UNDP Tajikistan’s presentation on climate-smart solutions to reduce super pollutants and protect glaciers.

Nigora Fazliddin/ UNDP Tajikistan

How UNDP is Tackling Super Pollutants to Protect Glaciers in Tajikistan?

Within the framework of the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation, UNDP participated in the side event “Pathways to Action: Tackling Super Pollutants for Glacier Preservation,” co-organised by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the Clean Air Fund (CAF). UNDP Tajikistan was represented by Umed Vahobov, Programme Specialist on Climate Change, Energy and Environment. His presentation focused on the role of super pollutants—such as black carbon, methane, and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)—in accelerating glacier melting and driving short-term global warming. He highlighted that reducing these pollutants can slow climate change up to four times faster than carbon dioxide reduction alone.

A man in a suit gestures while speaking; a woman in the background takes notes on her phone.

Umed Vahobov, Programme Specialist on Climate Change, Energy and Environment Cluster, is speaking at the side event “Pathways to Action: Tackling Super Pollutants for Glacier Preservation,” highlighting UNDP Tajikistan’s climate-smart practices to help mitigate glacier melting.

Nigora Fazliddin/ UNDP Tajikistan

Despite Tajikistan’s low overall emissions, nearly half are super pollutants. Vahobov outlined actions supported by UNDP, including the promotion of biodigesters to cut methane from livestock, replacing synthetic fertilisers with organic alternatives, and the development of a national project to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 2030. “Tackling super pollutants is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to protect Tajikistan’s glaciers. If we act now, we don’t just slow climate change—we safeguard water security for millions across Central Asia,” he said.

These efforts not only align with international climate commitments but also offer scalable, high-impact solutions with co-benefits for air quality, health, and livelihoods.

This side event gathered national and international experts from organisations such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI), and the Government of Nepal, who shared regional insights and discussed policy, financing, and practical solutions to reduce super pollutants and protect the cryosphere.

 

Media inquiries: Nigora Fazliddin, Communications Analyst, UNDP Tajikistan – nigorai.fazliddin@undp.org