Closing Remarks on the occasion of the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation 2025

Your Excellency Qohir Rasulzoda, Honorable Ministers, Colleagues and Dear Friends, 

It is a great honour to be on the podium at the closing ceremony of the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation 2025. 

I am especially grateful to H.E. Mr. Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, for the generous hospitality extended to more than 2,000 participants from 90 countries.

One of the most significant outcomes of this conference is the participation of so many countries. This means that we gathered nations with glaciers, without glaciers, developed, developing and least developed countries, small island developing states, all coming together to raise their voices.

We are grateful for the leadership of Tajikistan and for the commitments to the preservation of glaciers you have made at this important conference.

We have heard many statistics and many passionate statements about the threat to water security and ecosystems, and the risk of hazards such as glacial lake outburst floods which now threaten many countries. 

The collapse of a glacier in Switzerland during this week – home to the headquarters of the World Meteorological Organization – illustrated the threats. Behind the shocking images was a message of hope: early warnings and early action prevented the loss of life. 

So, yes. We can do something!

Such events will most likely increase because of rising temperatures. We therefore need to be prepared. Saving lives starts with seeing risks early — and that requires science-based forecasting and monitoring.

There are a number of important takeaways from this conference:

• Firstly and most importantly. Collaboration. We need to work together to preserve our frozen water – a shared and precious resource. 
  I was therefore encouraged to witness the strength of regional unity and willingness to collaborate. I was especially heartened to hear about Tajikistan’s plans for a regional glaciological center for better monitoring and capacity building in the region, which would work collaboratively with other centers supported by WMO in the region.  WMO stands ready to support this collaborative initiative. Investing in observational systems, data sharing and science is investing in the future resilience of nations. 
• Secondly, improving monitoring infrastructure. 
  According to WMO database, there are approximately  15000  registered surface monitoring stations around the globe. 
  Do you know how many are there to cover this huge region in the high mountains of Central Asia, in particular at altitude above 3000 meters? ONLY 7!!
  That means that we have huge uncertainties in our results and significant knowledge gaps. 
  We MUST strengthen our monitoring systems to improve our understanding and our models with a holistic cryosphere, water, climate approach.
• Thirdly, science must be the basis for action. There is no single formula, but one common thread. Science must be the foundation for informed decision-making on everything from disaster risk plans to river basin management strategies. We must therefore make sure that the data is shared. It’s a question of trust.
• Finally. We need development partners and funding agencies to stand up and deliver. Glacier preservation and monitoring is a heavily under-invested sector. We therefore need a more targeted and transparent evidence-based approach to encourage investments, including those from the private sector.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The WMO supports the Declaration of this High Level conference.

This statement underscores WMO’s role in supporting integrated glacier and cryosphere monitoring systems and services, facilitating science-based adaptation, and promoting international cooperation through various initiatives.

I will conclude by repeating my opening remarks. 

Let this conference in Dushanbe be remembered not only for what was said, but for what was committed and achieved. 

We are ready to walk the talk.  

Thank you. Spasiba