Cities are sinking: A global crisis beneath our feet
While the world's attention is often captured by rising sea levels, another critical environmental crisis is unfolding beneath our feet: land subsidence.
The first-ever high-level international conference on glacier melt has wrapped up in Dushanbe, bringing together more than 2,500 delegates from 80 countries.
The summit ended with the Dushanbe Declaration, a joint pledge to take urgent action against glacier loss, which threatens the water supply for millions worldwide.
Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon warned that the accelerating melt is a growing danger to humanity. In 2023 alone, glaciers lost an estimated 600 gigatons of freshwater.
The declaration calls for cutting emissions, shifting to greener production, and improving monitoring. A new international coalition of governments, scientists, and civil groups will lead implementation and promote climate innovation.
Participants also launched the Glacier Protection and Knowledge Access Fund to support glacier research, monitoring systems, and technology for water conservation, especially in poorer countries.
Tajikistan formally joined the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), strengthening its global environmental role. President Rahmon also laid out a seven-point plan to boost cooperation and build early warning systems.
The crisis is especially urgent in Central Asia. Tajikistan has already lost nearly 30% of its glacier area, and over 1,000 glaciers have disappeared in 23 years. The UN warns that over half the region’s glaciers could vanish by 2050, threatening water for 64 million people.
Kyrgyzstan showcased a new adaptation idea: artificial glaciers, or “ice towers,” to store water in winter and release it during dry seasons.
Dushanbe’s selection as host reflects its leadership. The UN previously declared 2025 the International Year of Glacier Conservation, following a resolution led by Rahmon.
A bridge collapse in the Vygonichsky district of Russia’s Bryansk region, near the Ukrainian border, caused a train derailment and a traffic accident early Sunday, killing at least seven people and leaving 30 injured, according to emergency services.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has confirmed it carried out a third targeted attack against the Crimean Bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, early Tuesday morning, marking a new escalation in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
A strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook Japan’s Hokkaido prefecture early Monday, causing no reported injuries or damage, and no tsunami warning was issued, officials confirmed.
Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine ended abruptly in Istanbul on Monday, lasting just over an hour amid mounting tensions following a major Ukrainian drone strike on Russian strategic bombers and renewed pressure from the U.S. for a breakthrough.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to speak this week to discuss recent trade tensions, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Azerbaijan has unveiled plans to export renewable electricity to Türkiye through the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, with a projected capacity of up to 1 gigawatt.
Two Armenian teenagers who accidentally crossed into Azerbaijani territory have been safely returned, easing tensions after a brief border incident.
Global investors remained wary on Friday after a closely watched phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping failed to deliver concrete progress on trade. Chinese markets reflected the cautious sentiment, with modest declines across key indices.
Uzbekistan secured a place at the FIFA World Cup for the first time in their history, earning a landmark qualification following a 0-0 draw with the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
Azerbaijan marked its National Day at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, with a cultural celebration that highlighted the country’s heritage, innovation, and growing global partnerships. The event took place at Azerbaijan’s national pavilion, which has become one of the most visited at the exhibition since
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