Recommendations from the Dushanbe Glaciers Declaration.

 

We, the Heads of Delegation, high-level representatives of the states, organizations, major groups and other stakeholders having met in Dushanbe, Tajikistan from 29 to 31 May 2025, contributing to the High-Level International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation in our different roles and responsibilities, Recalling United Nations General Assembly Resolution 77/158 of 14 December 2022, in which it decided to declare 2025 the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation and to proclaim 21 March of each year the World Day for Glaciers, to be observed starting in 2025, Reaffirming commitment to United Nations General Assembly Resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in which it adopted a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative Sustainable Development Goals and targets that include a dedicated climate action Goal 13, as well as relevant provisions of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 79/1 of 22 September 2024 “Pact for the Future” in line with national priorities, in which it committed to accelerate efforts to restore, protect, conserve and sustainably use the environment, including forests, mountains, glaciers and drylands, Reaffirming also commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, including the outcomes of the first Global Stocktake at the twenty-eighth session of the Conference of the Parties that took place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 30 November to 12 December 2023, Recalling United Nations General Assembly resolution 77/172 of 14 December 2022 that proclaimed the period 2023–2027 as Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions, Recognizing that glaciers and the broader cryosphere are a critical component of the hydrological cycle and that the current accelerated retreat of glaciers, melting of ice sheets, loss of snowpack and thawing of permafrost are caused by climate change, with severe negative impacts on the environment, human well-being, health, economies, infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, ecosystems and sustainable development, Deeply concerned that, over the past decades, climate change has led to widespread shrinking of the cryosphere, with mass loss from ice sheets and glaciers and reductions in snow cover and permafrost, which have decreased the stability of high mountain areas, increased damage from glacial lake outburst floods and changed the amount and seasonality of runoff and water resource availability from snowdominated and glacier-fed river basins, as well as contributed to localized declines in agricultural yields, water scarcity, loss of the ice memory recorded in glacier layers and increased global mean sea level, Emphasizing that glacier and snow melt significantly affects communities near and far from glaciers, disrupting the availability of freshwater resources that billions of people depend on for drinking water supplies, irrigation, livelihoods and energy production, agricultural productivity, food security, hydropower capacity, tourism, trade, navigation and transportation, and resulting in loss of cultural and natural heritage disproportionately affecting local populations and Indigenous Peoples, 2/4 Stressing that, in many high mountain areas, glacier retreat and permafrost thaw from global warming are projected to further decrease the stability of slopes, and that the incidences of floods owing to glacial lake outburst or rain-on-snow events, landslides and snow avalanches are projected to increase and occur in new locations or different seasons, further exacerbating the risks of natural hazards and taking note of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and the outcomes from its midterm review in May 2023 that committed to accelerate progress on integrating disaster risk reduction into policies, programmes and investments at all levels, Realizing the interconnections between glaciers’ preservation and the protection, conservation, restoration and sustainable management of ecosystems as well as their linkage with climate action, biodiversity conservation, disaster risk reduction, and combating desertification, as well as with human development, including the empowerment of women and girls, promotion of traditional knowledge and cultural practices, eradication of poverty and hunger to leave no one behind, Noting with concern the findings contained in the special reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Sixth Assessment Cycle, especially the special report on The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate and the Cross Chapter Paper on Mountains in the Working Group II Contribution on Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation, Noting also that continued rise in global temperatures may result in irreversible impacts on certain ecosystems with low resilience such as polar, mountain and low-lying coastal ecosystems impacted by ice sheet, glacier, permafrost and snowpack loss, including accelerated and higher committed sea-level rise, Noting further that decreases in global greenhouse gas emissions are essential to limit glacier and mountain cryosphere losses and ice sheet melt, Acknowledging the first annual observance of ‘World Glaciers Day’ on 21 March 2025, and taking note of the 2025 edition of the United Nations World Water Day Report, Water Towers: Mountains andGlaciers, Highlighting the importance of advancing related scientific research and continuous monitoring to address the challenges associated with melting glaciers and changes to the cryosphere called for in United Nations General Assembly resolution 78/321 of 13 August 2024 that proclaimed the period from 2025 to 2034 as the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences, Recognizing that the need for a worldwide inventory of existing perennial ice and snow masses that was first considered during the International Hydrological Decade, declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for the period 1965–1974, Acknowledging the importance of managing responsible adaptation in the face of glacier loss and emergence of post-glacial ecosystems, Underscoring the importance of initiatives related to the Earth’s cryosphere for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, the Decade of Action on Cryospheric Sciences 2025-2034, and the International Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable Development” 2018–2028, Taking note of the convening of the United Nations Conference on the Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the Objectives of the International Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028, held from 22 to 24 March 2023 in New York, which generated significant momentum towards enhancing water action and political commitment at all levels, including through the Water Action Agenda, to address water-related challenges, and outcomes of the Third High-level International Conferences on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018–2028 held in Dushanbe from 10 to 13 June 2024, which called for support for the implementation and widespread celebration of the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation in 2025 and the annual celebration of the World Day for Glaciers on 21 March, Emphasizing that the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 and the first International HighLevel Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation has enhanced common efforts and support for addressing the social, economic and environmental challenges and opportunities for the preservation of glaciers for present and future generations, Forward-looking key messages We, invite and encourage all decision-makers and stakeholders to take action in order to: Stress the urgent need to raise awareness of and facilitate actions towards the preservation of glaciers, snowpack, post-glacial ecosystems and to promote their socio-economic benefits and the conservation of biodiversity, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate, Promote integrated approaches for climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience, to manage water resources sustainably and mitigate hazards from a rapidly declining cryosphere, including disaster risk reduction, early warning systems, infrastructure and nature-based solutions as well as sustainable agrifood systems, Ensure effective measures for adaptation and to avoid further loss and damage, which also require reliable and sustained glacier, snowpack and permafrost monitoring to inform future projections and preparedness, Foster cooperation and partnerships between scientific institutions and relevant stakeholders on mountain cryosphere monitoring and research at various levels, and promote availability of research results and findings to all stakeholders in order to develop public policies and programmes at international, regional, national, sub-national and local levels, Recognize the financial gap for glacier-related adaptation as a pressing need, given that even in low emission scenarios, loss of glacier ice and reduced snowpack will necessitate some level of adaptation to changing water supplies and increasing hazards, Enhance embedding glaciers’ preservation into risk management frameworks and investment strategies to mitigate financial and environmental risks and drive economic resilience, Promote the participation of stakeholders, including women, youth, local communities and Indigenous Peoples in glacier-related processes, recognizing the value of traditional and Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge and local communities for sustainable solutions, Enhance capacities and capabilities of the next generation of scientists and practitioners working on glacier and cryosphere-related issues using a multipronged approach that integrates education, mentorship, field experience with policy engagement and the development and use of innovative tools and technologies to bridge science, policy and local knowledge, Gathered in Dushanbe for the High-level International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation, we declare our commitment to the following actions, according to our respective capabilities: 

1. Affirm the importance of glaciers and broader cryosphere for the global sustainable development, environment and climate agendas; 

2. Look forward to the thirtieth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Belém, Brazil, from 10 to 21 November 2025, as an opportunity to urge governments and other stakeholders to bring more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions consistent with real and lasting glacier preservation and to ensure that the preservation of glaciers and broader cryosphere and adaptation efforts remain at the forefront of global climate action; 3. Strengthen the linkages between water, glaciers and the broader cryosphere, disaster risk reduction and climate action through the 2026 United Nations Water Conference to Accelerate the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all and the 2028 United Nations Conference on the FinalComprehensive Review of the Implementation of the Objectives of the International Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018–2028, as well as the Eighth session of theGlobal Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction as the main Global forum to assess and discuss progresson the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction; 

4. Encourage governments and stakeholders, including international finance institutions, the private sector, bilateral donors, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, to mobilize financing on a voluntary basis, as appropriate, to limit and adapt to glacier and snowpack loss, mitigate cryosphere-related hazards, conserve biodiversity, and enhance ecosystem services, including to voluntarily join Tajikistan's contribution to the trust fund coordinated by the United Nations Secretary-General to support glaciers’ preservation activities; 

5. Pledge to raise the status of glaciers and the cryosphere, the projected loss of much of the cryosphere to climate change, and the devastating impacts on downstream people and ecosystems, including due to rising sea levels, throughout the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation 2025, as well as the Decade of Action on Cryospheric Sciences, 2025-2034, in all relevant forums and venues; 

6. Recommend registering the actions and partnerships proposed during the High-Level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation, as well as during all other relevant conferences and events, as voluntary commitments on the United Nations SDG Actions Platform, including in the WaterAction Agenda as appropriate, and providing regular updates on their progress; 

7. Encourage the launch of a Global Glacier Agenda with a view to elevating the importance of glaciers as well as the broader cryosphere in the global sustainable development, environment, oceans, water and climate agendas, while ensuring coherence and complementarity with existing initiatives, including in support of the 2025 as International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation and Decade ofAction for Cryospheric Sciences 2025-2034; 8. Express our sincere appreciation for the hospitality extended by the Government and People of Tajikistan and the support of the United Nations and of all the partners who contributed to this important conference. - Adopted in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 31 May 2025 by acclamation

The following policy recommendations were made in the Dushanbe Glaciers Declaration, issued at the High-Level International Conference on Glacier’s Preservation in May 2025: ■ Promoting scientific research and monitoring (and cooperation) to advance glacier, polar ice and high mountain cryosphere science, including Indigenous Peoples' knowledge, technological innovations and monitoring systems aimed at understanding the dynamics of glacier retreat and its impacts on ecosystems, water resources and agriculture. ■ Addressing the socioeconomic impacts of glacier melting to examine the downstream socioeconomic consequences of glacier retreat, including its effects on water availability, agricultural productivity and food security, hydropower and livelihoods. ■ Promoting integrated climate strategies combining adaptation, mitigation and resilience: implement early warning systems, disaster risk reduction, infrastructure and nature-based measures to sustainably manage water resources, mitigate hazards from cryosphere decline and support resilient agrifood systems. ■ Promoting the participation of stakeholders, including women, youth, local communities and Indigenous Peoples in glacier-related processes, recognizing the value of traditional and Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge and that of local communities for sustainable agrifood systems. ■ Raising awareness and mobilizing resources to increase global awareness of the importance of glacier preservation for food security, ecological balance and socioeconomic stability. ■ Catalysing actions through key frameworks and partnerships to leverage key global frameworks, such as the 2030 Agenda and the Pact for the Future; also, strengthening partnerships across stakeholders to promote transformative action aimed at preserving glaciers through urgent climate ambition, as well as creating pathways for collective adaptation to the effects of glacier melt on local ecosystems, food security and human well-being.