Publication “Glaciers Melting in Central Asia: Time for Action”

1 May 2015

Publication “Glaciers Melting in Central Asia: Time for Action”


The UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia has issued a new publication on “Glaciers Melting in Central Asia: Time for Action”.
 
This report has been prepared by an independent consultant for the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), based on the presentations, group works and discussions during the International Seminar on “Glaciers Melting in Central Asia – Time for Action” co-organized by UNRCCA, UNESCO Almaty office, the Executive Committee of IFAS and the World Bank. The seminar was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on 11 and 12 November 2014.

The two-day seminar commenced with in-depth introductory and guiding statements by the event organizers. It was followed by statements of delegations from Central Asia including Afghanistan. A scientific overview of the state of glaciers and snow-ice resources of high mountains and prevailing trends regarding the melting of glaciers, as well as scientific activities in Central Asia (CA) was presented. Stakeholders were given the opportunity to express their views on the problems and their readiness to get involved in joint actions to adapt to the changing environment and to cope with immediate challenges of the glaciers melting/climate change in CA. The need for education and public outreach in the context of climate change and glaciers melting was discussed on the second day before working groups got together to draft an action plan, which was discussed and agreed upon in principle by the working groups and subsequently presented in a plenary session. The draft action plan will be presented to the six participating countries for comments and approval.

The Dushanbe seminar has to be seen as a follow-up seminar to the Almaty 2013 seminar, which had the topic: “The impact of glaciers melting in Central Asia on National and Trans-Boundary Water Systems”. It was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 11-12 April 2013 and attended by representatives of Central Asian states, Afghanistan and international organizations as well as scientists and international experts.

The publication is expected to be of interest to diplomats, state officials, academic circles and political analysts of Central Asian states and the international expert community that follows up on the developments in the region.

GLACIERS MELTING IN CENTRAL ASIA: TIME FOR ACTION
Author: Alfred Diebold
No. of pages: 50
Publication date: 2015
Publisher: UNRCCA
Download PDF: English