Glacier Conference in Dushanbe outlines roadmap for urgent, coordinated action

As the world faces the cascading impacts of glacier retreat, over 2 000 delegates from 90 countries gathered in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, for the High-Level Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation. A flagship event of the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025, the conference emphasized that coordinated global action can still prevent the loss of half the world’s glaciers. 

Glacier melt is now the second-largest contributor to sea-level rise, with far-reaching implications for water, food and energy security, mountain ecosystems and global climate stability. Nearly 2 billion people depend on meltwater from mountains and glaciers for daily needs, livelihoods and cultural traditions.  

Participants stressed the urgent need to strengthen early warning systems, invest in data and research, and enhance cross-sectoral and transboundary cooperation to reduce disaster risks and build resilience in glacier-dependent regions.  

Held from 29 to 31 May, the conference featured extensive discussions across eight forums and twelve thematic sessions. Key themes included disaster risk reduction, innovative financing, community-based adaptation and mitigation, gender inclusion, youth leadership and the integration of scientific and traditional knowledge. 

A consistent message throughout the event was that vulnerable mountain communities are on the frontlines of climate change. Many mountain communities in developing countries are among the world’s poorest and most food insecure, and lack the infrastructure needed to cope with water scarcity and sudden hazards like glacial lake outburst floods and landslides. 

One of the key outcomes was the announcement of the forthcoming Dushanbe Glaciers Declaration, which will outline actionable commitments and collaborative strategies to be presented at COP30 in Brazil. The declaration aims to build momentum for continued cooperation on glacier preservation, climate resilience and sustainable development. 

Although five of the past six years have witnessed unprecedented glacier retreat, the conference had a tone of determination and hope. Speakers, including youth representatives, highlighted that with science, storytelling, solidarity and the right tools, meaningful change is still possible.  

Forum spotlight: Agriculture in a time of glacier loss 

The Mountain Partnership Secretariat, together with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme, convened a forum titled “Agriculture in a time of glacier loss: Addressing droughts, flooding with carbon sequestration and resilience in glacier-dependent regions”.  

Attended by over 80 participants—including high-level government representatives, scientists, youth leaders and civil society actors—the forum featured a high-level panel, technical session, and a partner roundtable. 

Discussions focused on how glacier loss is disrupting agriculture, water systems and rural livelihoods both in mountain areas and downstream. Speakers stressed the need to move beyond fragmented approaches toward coordinated action grounded in science, strengthened by partnerships, and inclusive of youth, Indigenous Peoples, women and local communities. 

Representatives from the World Meteorological Organization, UNESCO, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Asian Development Bank, Welthungerhilfe, the World Bank, and the Mountain Youth Hub shared insights on climate-resilient practices, regional cooperation, and the role of data in early warning and planning systems. 

“Mobilizing collaboration and cooperation across all levels – global, regional, national and local – is key to building climate resilience in mountain regions,”, said Sara Manuelli, Advocacy and Outreach Officer of the Mountain Partnership Secretariat at FAO. 

The forum concluded with calls for greater investment in education and capacity-building, as well as youth-led initiatives, ensuring that young people have a real seat at the decision-making table. The overarching message was clear: effective solutions must be locally relevant and globally significant, with mountain communities at their centre.