Tajikistan is hosting the Fourth International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” from 25 to 28 May in Dushanbe, bringing together thousands of participants from governments, international organisations and financial institutions.
The event highlights Tajikistan’s growing role in global climate and water diplomacy, with the country positioning glacier preservation, water security and climate risks at the centre of its international agenda. More than 2,500 participants from 31 countries, alongside representatives from 33 international organisations and financial institutions, are expected to attend.
President Emomali Rahmon opened the diplomatic week by meeting senior United Nations officials, including UN Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, UN Special Envoy on Water Retno Marsudi, and United Nations University Rector Tshilidzi Marwala.
The meetings reinforced the importance of the “Dushanbe Water Process” - a platform Tajikistan has used for years to keep water and climate issues on the international agenda. According to the Tajik presidential press service, 14 UN resolutions on water resources have already been adopted at Tajikistan’s initiative.
The conference comes amid growing international concern over glacier retreat and water shortages caused by climate change.
Tajikistan’s glaciers and rivers are vital sources of water for Central Asia, supporting agriculture, hydropower and drinking water supplies across the region. Officials and experts warn that melting glaciers and changing river flows threaten energy security, food production and regional stability.
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan hold much of the region’s mountain water sources, while downstream countries including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan depend heavily on stable water flows.
The Dushanbe conference is expected to serve as a preparatory stage ahead of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference in Abu Dhabi, co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal.
Tajik officials say the current process is also intended to strengthen international cooperation before the conclusion of the UN Water Action Decade in 2028.
Experts note, however, that long-term challenges remain unresolved, including ageing irrigation systems, unequal water distribution and seasonal disputes over water use in Central Asia.
One person has been killed and six others injured after an explosion at a petroleum storage facility at the Port of Rotterdam, prompting an investi...
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over t...
The suspension of two major grain terminals in Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk could increase pressure on Kazakhstan’s agricult...
Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has increased the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab, raising fears that instability in both waterways could trigger a wider global energy and trade crisis.
Flights at Catania airport in Sicily will remain suspended until early Friday as ash from Mount Etna continues to disrupt air travel, following hundreds of cancellations and diversions over the past week.
Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source who said there had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a timeframe to implement it.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over the strategic waterway and insisting it will not reopen until Washington fulfils its commitments under an interim deal.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 12th of August, covering the latest developments.
The suspension of two major grain terminals in Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk could increase pressure on Kazakhstan’s agricultural market if Russian exporters divert supplies to Central Asia at discounted prices.
Georgia’s Prime Minister says the EU’s inclusion of a major Black Sea cable project on a key infrastructure list is fresh evidence of the country’s importance to regional energy and digital connectivity.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has dismissed Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan and appointed former parliament speaker Alen Simonyan as his replacement.
Central Asia’s economy has surpassed $543 billion, driven by Kazakhstan’s economic weight, strong exports and foreign investment, while growing trade across Asia points to an increasingly connected region.
The United Nations refugee agency is planning a settlement and carpet-weaving workshop for Afghan returnees in Kabul as the country grapples with large-scale returns and growing pressure on housing, jobs and basic services.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment