Section 1. 2025 Calendar of events
January
January 2-5 –14th Iran International Renewable Energy and Energy Saving Exhibition, Tehran, Iran
January 14-16 – World Future Energy Summit, Abu Dhabi, UAE
January 21 –Official launch event of the International Year of Glacier Preservation 2025, High-Level Plenary Opening, Geneva, Switzerland
January 23 – Partnership Dialogue “Water Resource Management in Central Asia in the context of Climate Impacts” and “European Union for Sustainable Central Asia: Joint Actions and Cooperation on Water, Energy, and Climate Change”, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
January 26 – International clean energy day
January 29 – 88th meeting of the ICWC, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
February
February 2 – World Wetlands Day
February 11 – International Day of Women and Girls in Science
February 11 – Meeting of the Global Woman in Water Diplomacy Network, online
February 12-13 - Regional Workshop for countries of Central Asia on the outcomes of the third reporting exercise on SDG indicator 6.5.2 and sharing experience in using reporting as a tool for developing transboundary cooperation, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
February 19-20– 2nd Brussels Dialogue on Climate Security, Brussels, Belgium
February 25-27 - Closing event of the youth seminar series “Drops of the Future”, Vienna, Austria
February 25-28 – Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development, Bangkok, Thailand
February 27-28 – International Scientific and Practical Conference “Bioresources, Climate Change, and Biodiversity Conservation: Interdisciplinary Approaches, Innovative Solutions”, online
March
March 3 – World Wildlife Day
March 5-7 – World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS), New-Delhi, India
March 11 – High-level political dialogue on Scaling up Financing and Investment for Environmental Goals in Central Asia, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
March 11-13 –20th Anniversary International Exhibition on Agriculture “AgroWorld Uzbekistan 2025”, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
March 11-14 – International Exhibition of Wastewater Treatment, Drinking Water Preparation and Water Management Technologies /Aquatech Amsterdam2025, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
March 12 – Meeting of the Global Women in Water Diplomacy Network, online
March 12-13 – Global Forum "Sustainable Energy for All", Bridgetown, Barbados
March 12-14 – International Exhibition for Agriculture in Kazakhstan/AGRITEK ASTANA, Astana, Kazakhstan
March 13 – meeting of the Working Group on Water Law of the Global Forum “Law, Justice and Development”, online
March 14 – International Day of Action for Rivers
March 19-20 – Global workshop on increasing climate resilience with focus on floods and health on the transboundary and national levels, Geneva, Switzerland
March 20 – Meeting “The Vanishing Mountain Cryosphere and its Implications for the Water Cycle in a Changing Climate”, Paris, France
March 21 – 15th meeting of the Task Force on Water and Climate, Geneva, Switzerland
March 21 – International Day of Forests
March 21 – World Day for Glaciers
March 22 – World Water Day
March 23 – World Meteorological Day
March 24 – National Seminar on the UNECE “Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, 1992”, Dhaka, Bangladesh
March 26– Aral Sea Day
April
April 3-5 – 6th International Scientific and Practical Conference “Prospects for Environmental Development of Russia and the CIS Countries”, Moscow, Russia
April 4-5 – International Climate Forum “Central Asia Facing Global Climate Challenges: Consolidation for Shared Prosperity,” Samarkand, Uzbekistan
April 5 – 89th ICWC meeting, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
April 7-12 – CGIAR Science Week, Nairobi, Kenya
April 8-10 – 9th All-Russian Water Congress and exhibition VODEXPO 2025, Moscow, Russia
April 9-10 – 9th Annual International Congress and Exhibition: Hydropower of Central Asia and the Caspian, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
April 9-11 – Ecological Forum and 9th Specialized Exhibition “Ecology and Technology 2025”, Ufa, Russia
April 10 – International scientific and practical conference “Water Diplomacy in Central Asia: Trust, Dialogue, and Multilateral Cooperation for Sustainable Development”, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
April 14-18 – 6th African Regional Conference on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), Abuja, Nigeria
April 15-17 – ECOSOC Youth Forum, New York, US
April 17 – seminar “Water Issues in Central Asia”, online
April 21-23 – IE expo China 2025, Shanghai, China
April 22 – International Mother Earth Day
April 22 – Webinar “From Ground to Orbit: Combining Ground-Based and Satellite-Based Water Monitoring for Improved Basin Management”
April 23-25 – International Specialized Exhibition and Conference of the Water Industry Su Arnasy-Water Expo 2025, Astana, Kazakhstan
April 24 – Webinar “Advancing the SDGs through the Water-Energy-Food Nexus”
April 24-25 – International Conference “Global Mountain Dialogue for Sustainable Development: Towards the ‘Bishkek+25’ Summit”, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
April 24-26 – 29th International Energy and Environment Exhibition and Conference, Istanbul, Turkey
May
May 1 – Regional Conference “Integration of Central Asian Countries Against the Background of Modern Global Changes: Status and Prospects”, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
May 5-8 – Week of Ecosperity 2025, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
May 5-8 – World Bank Land Conference 2025: Securing Land Tenure and Access to Climate Action, Washington, US
May 5-9 – Global GEO Forum “The Earth Talks”, Rome, Italy
May 6 – meeting of the IUCN Coordination Bureau, online
May 7-8 – 10th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals, New-York, US
May 12-14 – Global Water Summit 2025, Paris, France
May 13-14 – 15th meeting of the Working Group on Water and Health under the UNECE-WHO Protocol on Water and Health, Geneva, Switzerland
May 13-15 – Energy Week of Uzbekistan – SEE2025, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
May 13-15 – Green Energy-Saving Technologies Exhibition of Central Asia/GETCA2025, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
May 13-15 – Central Asian Climate Change Conference (CACCC-2025), Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
May 14 – 8th International Energy Summit, St. Petersburg, Russia
May 20-23 – III International Conference “Lakes of Eurasia: Problems and Solutions”, Kazan, Russian Federation
May 21-22 – Subregional Workshop on Climate Risks Affecting Tailings Facility Safety in Central Asia, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
May 22 – International Day for Biological Diversity
May 22-23 – XI Nevsky International Ecological Congress, St. Petersburg, Russia
May 24-28 – 5th Baghdad International Water Conference and 11th International Micro-Irrigation Conference, Baghdad, Iraq
May 27-28 –1st Regional Foresight Seminar “Central Asia 2050: Paving the Way to Shared Prosperity and Stability”, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
May 29 – Regional Forum “Enhancing Transboundary Cooperation for Water Sustainability and Climate Resilience in Glacier-Dependent Basins of Central Asia” , Dushanbe, Tajikistan
May 29-31 – High-Level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
June
June 2-3 – 14th meeting of the Working Group on improving the organizational structure and legal framework of IFAS, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
June 3-5 –17th Shanghai International Water Technology Exhibition, Shanghai, China
June 4 – High-level conference “Regional Dialogue on Water Diplomacy: Challenges, Solutions and Partnership”, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
June 4-6 – WATERTECH CHINA, Shanghai, China
June 5 – World Environment Day
June 8 – World Oceans Day
June 11-13 – International Exhibition of Environmental Technologies and Green Energy (ENVEX 2025), Seoul, South Korea
June 11-13 – 2nd Regional Forum of Rural Youth for Europe and Central Asia, Budapest, Hungary
June 16 – Seminar “Sustainable and Efficient Water Use in the Context of Small Rivers of Central Asia: Challenges, Solutions, Exchange of Experience and Prospects”, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
June 16-17 – Workshop on Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration in Transboundary Basins, Geneva, Switzerland
June 17 – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
June 18 – 9th meeting of the Task Force on the Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystems Nexus, Geneva, Switzerland
June 19 – International Conference “Bridges and Interconnections: Italy and Central Asia Collaborating for a Sustainable Future”, Venice, Italy
June 19-21 – International exhibition of environmental technologies Eco Expo Central Asia 2025, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
June 20 – International scientific conference “Scientific Approaches to Addressing Global Environmental and Water Challenges in Central Asia” dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the establishment of SANIIRI, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
June 22-27– 41st World Congress of the International Association for Hydro-Ecological Engineering and Research (IAHR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore
June 23 – Online webinar “Climate risks and water resources management in the Fergana Valley: discussion of approaches and solutions”
June 23-25 – International Singapore Water Week, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
June 23-26 – 7th IWA International Conference on Eco-Technologies for Wastewater Treatment, Stockholm, Sweden
June 24 – Global Network Meeting “Women in Water Diplomacy”, online
July
July 3 – BBC Board of Directors meeting, online
July 3-4 – Eurasian Business Forum “GREEN ENERGY & WASTE RECYCLING FORUM”/GEWR, Astana, Kazakhstan
July 8 – meeting to discuss the draft Ramsar Convention Strategy for Uzbekistan (2026-2030), Tashkent, Uzbekistan
July 9 – Conference “The Impact of Climate on the Water Sector”, Astana, Kazakhstan
July 10 – 4th meeting of the RWG on mutually beneficial water and energy mechanism, Astana, Kazakhstan
July 10-11 – 19th International Conference on Sustainable Water Resources Management /ICSWRM2025, Stockholm, Sweden
July 12 – International Day to Avoid Sand and Dust Storms
July 14-23 – High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, New York, US
July 16-18 – Regional scientific and educational seminar “Hydrology of Central Asia from Space”, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
July 24 – Earth Overshoot Day
August
August 5-8 – 3rd UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, Avaza, Turkmenistan
August 11-16 – IV International Meeting on Ecology and Tourism “Youth – Builders of the Future!”, Kashkadarya province, Uzbekistan
August 12 – Caspian Sea Day
August 14 – 90th ICWC meeting, Borovoye, Kazakhstan
August 19 – Panel session “Climate Challenges in Central Asia and the European Union: New Opportunities for Transregional Cooperation” Tashkent, Uzbekistan
August 19-21 – 3rd International Specialized Environmental Exhibition and Forum/Ecology Expo 2025, Minsk, Belarus
August 24-28 – World Water Week, hybrid, Stockholm, Sweden
August 27 – World Lake Day
August 27-29 – International Scientific and Practical Conference “Sustainable Management of Soil Resources in the Context of Climate Change”, Almaty, Kazakhstan
September
September 1-5 – Global Forum “Cleantech Days 2025”, Istanbul, Turkey
September 1-30 – 8th International Environmental Technology Exhibition: Water, Air, Soil, Waste, Guangzhou, China
September 4-5 – 9th North and Central Asia Multi-Stakeholder Forum on the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, Almaty, Kazakhstan
September 7 – International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
September 7-13 – 4th World Irrigation Forum and 76th International Executive Council Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
September 9-11 – International Exhibition of Technologies and Equipment for Municipal and Industrial Water Treatment, Water Supply, Wastewater Disposal and Wastewater Treatment “ECWATECH”, Moscow, Russia.
September 10 – Seminar “Results of the analysis of the baseline situation in the field of water supply, sanitation, hygiene and health in Uzbekistan and further steps to develop a draft target indicators for Uzbekistan within the framework of the Protocol on Water and Health”, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
September 10-12 – 2nd International Exhibition and Conference “Water Management” – “Baku Water Week”, Baku, Azerbaijan
September 15-19 – 15th Central Asian Leadership Program on Environment for Sustainable Development, Almaty, Kazakhstan
September 16 – International Conference “Innovative Methods of Monitoring Mountain Glaciers in the Context of Climate Change and Current Issues in the Development of Glaciology”, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
September 20 – World Cleanup Day
September 20 – 5th International Conference “Silk Road of Knowledge: Climate Mitigation and Adaptation in the Era of Socio-Ecological Uncertainties”, Almaty, Kazakhstan
September 21 – International Seminar “Reliable and Sustainable Water Security in Central Asia”, Almaty, Kazakhstan
September 22-26 – International Scientific and Educational Forum “The Caspian Region at the Crossroads of Eras and Cultures: Challenges and Prospects of the Sustainable Development Paradigm”/ISEF2025, Aktau, Kazakhstan
September 25 – World Maritime Day
September 26 – World Environmental Health Day
September 28 – World Rivers Day
October
October 1-3 – 2nd International Forum “Sustainable Development of Mountainous Territories”, Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan
October 2-4 – Kazakhstan Energy Week 2025 and the XVI Eurasian Forum KAZENERGY /KEW-2025, Astana, Kazakhstan
October 8-10 – International Scientific and Practical Conference “Water Security and Climate Change - 2025”, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
October 9-15 – IUCN World Conservation Congress, Abu Dhabi, UAE
October 10-17 – World Food Forum 2025, Rome, Italy
October 13 – International Conference on Climate Change and Water Resources Conservation, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
October 13-15 – 20th meeting of the Working Group on Integrated Water Resources Management, 20th meeting of the Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment under the Water Convention, Geneva, Switzerland
October 14-15– Scientific Conference “Navigating Change: Agricultural Sustainability and Rural Development in Central Asia,” Tashkent, Uzbekistan
October 15 – International Day of Rural Women
October 15-16 – Fergana Peace Forum “Fergana Valley: Joining Efforts for Peace and Progress”, Fergana, Uzbekistan
October 16 – World Food Day
October 16 – Session “Local Action for Climate, Peace and Stability: Experiences from Latin America, the Middle East, Central and South Asia”, organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and partners within the framework of Geneva Peace Week 2025, Geneva, Switzerland
October 16 – 6th Kafirnigan River Basin Women's Forum: “The Voice of Women in the Age of Melting Glaciers: Knowledge for Equitable and Sustainable Water Management”, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
October 17 – 7th meeting of the River Basin Council on water resources management in the Kafirnigan River basin, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
October 23 – Meeting “Rural Women and a Sustainable Future” on the occasion of the International Day of Rural Women, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
October 26-28 – 14th UNESCO Youth Forum, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
October 27-31 – Global Green Growth Week /GGGWeek, Seoul, South Korea
October 28-30 – 14th International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development, Skopje, North Macedonia
October 29-31 – Regional Conference “One Health for Pandemics Prevention, Sustainable Food Systems and Ecosystem Health in Central Asia”, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
October 30 – Webinar on intelligent irrigation management, ICID, online
October 30-
November 12 – 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
November
November 1 – World Ecology Day
November 3-4 –Policy Dialogue “Gender and Youth in Water & Energy: Building Inclusive Futures for Central Asia”, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
November 3-4 – International Conference and Exhibition “Development of the Construction, Industrial, Chemical and Energy Industries of Turkmenistan”, Avaza, Turkmenistan
November 5-7 – 7th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Water and Health, Budapest, Hungary
November 9-15 – International Week of Science and Peace
November 10 – World Science Day for Peace and Development
November 10-21 – 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), Belem, Brazil
November 13 – 91st meeting of ICWC, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
November 17 – Conference on International Water Cooperation and Improvement of Legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
November 18-19 – “The Path of Thought” Forum on “Rethinking Sustainable Development in Central Asia in the Era of Emerging Regionalism,” Tashkent, Uzbekistan
November 19 – Central Asian Climate Cooperation Forum, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
November 21 – Technical Dialogue on Climate Change and Resilience: Insights, Tools, and Way Forward, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
November 24 -
December 5 – 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES COP20), Samarkand, Uzbekistan
November 27– Central Asian Women Scientists Forum/SheScience 2025, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
November 27 – International Day of Participation in Research for Sustainable Development
November 27-28– 5th meeting of the Regional Working Group on the implementation of the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
December
December 1-5 – 19th IWRA World Water Congress, Marrakech, Morocco
December 1-5 – 23rd session of the Committee for the Review of Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 23) of the United Nations Framework Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Panama City, Panama
December 2-3 – 3rd meeting of the Basin Dialogues on the Amu Darya and Syr Darya Rivers within the framework of the regional program “Climate-Sensitive Water Resources Management in Central Asia”, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
December 5 – World Soil Day
December 8-10 – Innovation-Driven Sustainable Water Development Conference/IDWS 2025, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
December 8-11 – Pan-Asian Training on Water Governance and International Water Law: Improving Water Resources Management and Climate-Resilient Investments, Bangkok, Thailand
December 8-12 –IWA Water and Development Congress and Exhibition 2025, Bangkok, Thailand
December 8-12 – 7th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, Nairobi, Kenya
December 9-10 – International Conference “The Role of Women in Modern Society: Developing International Cooperation for Sustainable Development”, Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan
December 10-11 – meetings of the Regional Working Group on Water Quality and the Uzbek-Kazakh Joint Working Group (Commission) on the Syr Darya River Basin, Astana, Kazakhstan
December 11 – International Mountain Day
December 17-18 – World Congress on Soil and Water Sciences/WCSWS-25, Istanbul, Turkey
December 17-18 – 10th Global Climate Change Summit, Paris, France
MAJOR EVENTS IN CENTRAL ASIA
International Climate Forum "Central Asia Facing Global Climate Challenges: Consolidation for Shared Prosperity," Samarkand, Uzbekistan, April 4-5
The Forum, organized by the Government of Uzbekistan and partners, became a key platform for climate dialogue and sustainable development in Central Asia. The event brought together over 1,000 delegates, including government and EU officials, as well as over 400 representatives from the UN, science, business, and the media.
Forum Programme: Day 1 – High-level Dialogue session “Climate Change in Focus: Shaping the Future through Collective Action”; Day 2 – Plenary Sessions: (1) Green Economy as a Path to Sustainable Development;(2) Conservation of biodiversity and natural ecosystems of Central Asia in response to climate challenges; (3) Clean energy: the basis for sustainable and environmentally friendly development; (4) Integrated water resources management under climate change in Central Asia; (5) Young Generation: Looking to the Future with Optimism; (6) Sustainable Cities and Climate Challenges: integrated planning and management; (7) Scientific approaches and innovative solutions to climate change: global challenges and local strategies.
The Forum was chaired by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who proposed: holding a regional campaign, “Green Belt of Central Asia”; establishing a Secretariat for the EU Water-Energy-Climate Change initiative in Tashkent; establishing satellite monitoring of glacier conditions and risks under the EU Copernicus program; launching a Regional Program for the Implementation of Water-Saving Technologies in Central Asia and increasing the share of renewable energy sources to 54% within five years. Leaders of the Central Asian countries also put forward the following initiatives: Kazakhstan – establish the Central Asian Water and Energy Partnership and the International Biodiversity Fund in Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan – expand access to climate finance, take into account the interests of mountainous countries, and exchange external debt for “green” projects; Tajikistan – adopt modern water-saving technologies, expand funding for climate conservation and disaster management measures; Turkmenistan – decarbonize and reduce methane, establish a Regional Climate Technology Center and a UN Regional Council on water use in Central Asia, prepare a Circular Economy Transition Program, and support the activities of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea.
In his video address, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the need to strengthen regional cooperation in Central Asia and link it to global action, calling for measures to limit warming to 1.5°C and cover all sectors of the economy to be included in new climate plans.
At the ministerial session “Central Asia Facing the Challenges of a Triple Planetary Crisis,” measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity, reduce environmental pollution, sustainably manage natural resources, and develop a system of protected natural areas were discussed. As a result, a Ministerial Statement on the joint implementation of the "Water-Land Nexus Program in Central Asia" was signed (April 4).
The Forum presented the Green Development Concept with the intention of promoting it at COP30 in Brazil; the Aral Cultural Summit was launched (Samarkand-Nukus, April 4-6).
Results of the Samarkand Forum: Uzbekistan's accession to the Climate Club; a number of memorandums (including with GIZ and the Ministry of Natural Resources of Kyrgyzstan on training at Green University); a strategic cooperation agreement with UNICEF in Uzbekistan.
International Conference “Global Mountain Dialogue for Sustainable Development: Towards the Bishkek+25 Summit”, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, April 24-25
The event, organized by the Government of Kyrgyzstan jointly with FAO and OSCE and with the support of ADB, WB, GIZ and others, aimed to bring mountain issues to global climate and sustainable development agendas and raise awareness of the challenges facing mountain regions. More than 400 representatives from over 50 countries and 29 international organizations, including heads of state and government, scientists and experts participated in the event.
The Conference program included a high-level plenary session “Advancing the Mountain Agenda Globally” and parallel panel sessions: (1) Prospects for sustainable mountain development. Improving the socioeconomic situation of mountain residents; (2) Natural disasters in mountainous areas and early warning systems; (3) Promoting regional cooperation: case-studies from European countries, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Central Asia; (4) Women, mountains and opportunities; (5) Providing health care in mountain areas: challenges and prospects; (6) The impact of climate change on glaciers and the cryosphere; (7) Agriculture and degradation of mountain pastures; (8) Restoration of mountain forests and landscapes in the context of climate change; (9) Protection of mountain ecosystems and conservation of biodiversity in Central Asia and other regions: sharing experiences; (10) Encouraging research on mountain development; (11) Mobilizing financial resources for sustainable mountain development; (12) The role of mountains in ensuring global water, food and energy security.
At the opening ceremony, the President of Kyrgyzstan outlined a number of initiatives, including the establishment of: (1) a UN-Mountains coordination mechanism under the auspices of the UN, (2) a coalition of mountain countries consisting of both developed and developing countries, as well as international partners, (3) an international platform “Mountain Youth, Women and Climate”.
The Global Mountain Dialogue was a significant step towards the Second Mountain Summit Bishkek+25, which will take place in 2027.
The 7th Central Asian Climate Change Conference (CACCC-2025) "Achieving the Global Climate Finance Goal through Regional and National Actions in Central Asia", Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 13-15
CACCC-2025, organized by CAREC jointly with the Government of Turkmenistan with the support of the WB, the Central Asian Water and Energy Program (CAWEP), the RESILAND CA+ program, and GIZ, aimed to launch a transformative dialogue to strengthen resilience of Central Asian countries through strategic financing, innovative solutions, and strengthened cooperation.
The Conference program included plenary sessions, panel discussions (Climate finance for Central Asia: regional and national perspectives, Regional collaboration on climate: Priorities and climate justice, Transboundary landscape restoration in Central Asia, Advancing the Regional climate agenda and preparing for COP-30), and more than 10 parallel thematic sessions covering a wide range of issues – from the implementation of innovative climate finance tools and the transition to a green economy to the nexus of water and energy.
The key outcome of the Conference was the presentation of a draft final document with proposals for strengthening regional partnerships, increasing climate investment, and strengthening institutional capacity.
In the run-up to the Conference, the following events were also organized: (1) a training session for representatives of state mass media “Climate Change: Content Diversity and Target Audiences” (May 12); (2) Regional Steering Committee meeting of the Regional Climate Action Transparency Hub for Central Asia /ReCATH (May 12); (3) Seminar “Strengthening the Role of Youth and Women in Responding to Climate Change Risks in Turkmenistan and Central Asia” (May 12); (4) Central Asia Regional Economy-Climate Scenario Building workshop (May 12).
Regional Forum “Enhancing Transboundary Cooperation for Water Sustainability and Climate Resilience in Glacier-Dependent Basins of Central Asia,” Dushanbe, Tajikistan, May 29
SIC ICWC, in accordance with the decision of ICWC , partnered with several international organizations - including SDC, OECD, IWMI, WB, GIZ, UNRCCA, and UNECE - to hold a regional Forum. Organized on the eve of the High-Level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation (Dushanbe, May 29–31), the Forum focused on addressing pressing water, food, energy, and environmental security challenges in the region.
The Forum was comprised of three thematic sessions. Session 1 “Strengthening Transboundary Governance and Policy Coordination” indicated to a growing level of trust among the states that creates a good potential for a deeper coordination and integration. Speakers underlined that regional dialogue and cooperation are essential for efficient use and peaceful management of Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, against the backdrop of growing climate variability. The need for more active involvement of Afghanistan's representatives in expert dialogue on climate, water, and ecosystems was highlighted. Session 2 "Science-Policy Interface for WEFE Nexus" showcased opportunities to leverage data and research for improved climate adaptation. Particular attention was given to the potential use of cryospheric data through emerging tools such as snowMapper, glacierMapper and others. During the session, SIC ICWC presented preliminary findings of a study on water-dependent ecosystems in the Amu Darya River Basin to inform the GIZ-supported basin dialogue. Session 3 “Climate-Resilient Solutions and Innovative Financing” explored investment pathways and financing mechanisms for resilience, infrastructure development and basin management based on nexus. The session also featured, among other things, the progress made under the IKI Nexus project implemented by OECD, SIC ICWC, and UNECE with the financial support from Germany.
High-Level International Conference on Glaciers Preservation, May 29-31, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
The Conference was organized by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in cooperation with WMO, UNESCO, ADB and other partners in accordance with resolution UNGA A/RES/77/158 adopted on the initiative of the President of Tajikistan during the 53rd plenary meeting of the 77th UNGA session. The aim of the conference is to highlight the key role of glaciers in maintaining the global ecological balance and the need to take urgent action to prevent their melting on the global agenda through joint action, scientific innovation and policy coherence. The event was attended by more than 2,500 people from around the world, including representatives of 80 UN member states, relevant ministers, and heads of international and regional organizations.
The Conference programme included two plenary sessions, 12 thematic sessions, two high-level round tables, and pre-conference events.
The pre-conference day featured a series of forums covering a wide range of topics: (1) Agriculture in a Time of Glacier Loss: Addressing droughts, flooding with carbon sequestration and resilience in glacier-dependent regions; (2) Children and Youth International Forum on Glacier Preservation and Climate Action; (3) Regional Forum on Glacier Monitoring and the Cryosphere in Central Asia; (4) From IYGP to Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences, 2025-2034; (5) Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Resilience, Glacier Preservation and Water Cooperation; (6) “Enhancing Transboundary Cooperation for Water Sustainability and Climate Resilience in Glacier Dependent Basins of Central Asia”; (7) Towards Sustainable Water Management in Central Asia: The Role of Cryosphere Monitoring in Water Allocation Decision-Making; (8) Women Forum on Glaciers’ Preservation, and a series of side events. The day concluded with a cultural event, Glaciers Festival, aimed at raising awareness of the critical issue of glacier melt and the value of water.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on May 30, the President of Tajikistan outlined a number of initiatives, including organizing a comprehensive expedition to study Tajikistan's glaciers, establishing a regional glacier research laboratory in Tajikistan, developing a special program to preserve the natural diversity of Tajikistan's national park, and developing a global strategy for glaciers’ preservation at the international level.
The final documents, including the Dushanbe Declaration on Glaciers, the Dushanbe Appeal and the Chairman's report, were published as official documents of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly and distributed to Member States.
On the sidelines of the Conference, the EC IFAS signed MoUs with: (1) UNRCCA to cooperate within the framework of mechanisms for monitoring and preventive response to environmental threats. This partnership aims to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the two regional organizations to effectively address climate and environmental challenges in Central Asia, as well as improve the socio-economic situation in the Aral Sea basin; (2) UNEP to open up new opportunities for collaboration in environmental protection and sustainable development in the region, including within the frameworks of ASBP-4 and UN SDG.
The Conference included: (1) an international exhibition “Turning Glacier Challenges into Solutions” aimed at raising awareness of glaciers’ shrinkage, showcasing research, technologies and solutions in the field of their monitoring and preservation (May 29-31); (2) “Eco-Run for Glaciers” in the Safed-Dara ski resort (June 1); (3) excursions, including a field visit to the Nurek and Rogun HPPs (June 1).
Ninth North and Central Asia Multi-Stakeholder Forum on the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for a sustainable future for all,” Almaty, Kazakhstan, September 4-5
The Forum, organized under auspices of the ESCAP Subregional Office for North and Central Asia in partnership with the Government of Kazakhstan, UN agencies, and international and regional organizations, including ECO and SCO, aimed to accelerate SDG implementation in the subregion through process coordination, expanded cooperation, and improved monitoring. Representatives of government agencies, international organizations, and the expert community participated in the forum.
The Forum included a series of thematic sessions on SDGs 6, 7, 9, and 11, and a panel discussion " Leveraging Synergies in the Water-Energy Nexus for the Implementation of Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)." During the discussion of SDG 6, ESCAP Resolution 81/3 “Strengthening cooperation on the water and climate change nexus for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific” (April 25, Bangkok) was highlighted as a mandate for collective action and the upcoming Asia-Pacific regional meeting to prepare for the 2026 UN Water Conference in Tajikistan and the UN Conference itself as the key milestones.
The Forum confirmed the establishment of the UN Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . A separate workshop was devoted to the preparation of voluntary national reviews, where Tajikistan presented its experience integrating the SDGs into national development strategies, and Kazakhstan described the preparation of its third voluntary national review of the SDGs. The Forum's findings will be taken into account in preparation for the 13th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (Bangkok, February 24-27) and the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (New York, July 6-15) in 2026.
Development and support
Scientific-Information Center ICWC