Dushanbe, 29 May 2025 – The CICA Chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in collaboration with the CICA Secretariat, hosted a side event titled “Water Security and Climate Resilience: Addressing Environmental Challenges in CICA Member States” on the margins of the High-Level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The hybrid event brought together representatives from CICA Member States, international organizations and leading experts to advance regional cooperation on glacier retreat, water security and climate resilience.
Moderated by the CICA Chairmanship, the side event built on the momentum of the 2024 CICA Ministerial Conference on Environmental Issues in Astana, reinforcing CICA’s role as a vital platform for environmental diplomacy and collective action, as well as COP29’s legacy.
The event opened with remarks by H.E. Alimirzamin Askerov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Tajikistan, outlining Azerbaijan’s ambitious CICA Chairmanship vision under the theme “Stronger CICA: Connectivity, Digitalization and Sustainable Growth in Asia.” He emphasized the role of confidence building measures in fostering cooperation to address transboundary environmental challenges, drawing on Azerbaijan’s COP29 Presidency legacy.
Mr. Isfandiyor Shukurzoda, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan, welcomed participants and underscored Tajikistan’s global leadership in glacier preservation. He underscored the country’s initiative to declare 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, alongside proposals for a World Glacier Day and an International Fund for Glacier Conservation. Mr. Shukurzoda stressed the urgent need for coordinated international support to address glacier melt and its impacts on water security and regional stability.
Mrs. Zhang Ling, CICA Deputy Secretary General, emphasized the existential threat posed by glacier loss to water security, biodiversity and disaster resilience across the CICA region. She reaffirmed CICA’s commitment to fostering dialogue and implementing joint actions, building on the 2024 CICA Ministerial Conference on Environmental Issues outcomes. Mrs. Zhang Ling called for transforming challenges into opportunities to ensure sustainable water governance and equitable access to clean water for future generations.
Keynote speakers provided strategic insights into the region’s environmental priorities. Mr. Shahin Shahyarov, Senior Representative of the COP29 Presidency, highlighted the Baku Dialogue on Water for Climate Action, endorsed by 71 countries, including 11 CICA Member States. This initiative promotes inclusive partnerships and transboundary cooperation to address water-related climate risks.
In his presentation, Dr. Ugur Turan, an expert in CICA’s environmental dimension, outlined the outcomes of the 2024 CICA Ministerial Conference on Environmental Issues High-level Statement, which pledged action on climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, sustainable water management and pollution control. He underscored that these commitments provide a strong framework for CICA’s long-term environmental agenda, fostering permanent cooperation on environmental issues.
The open discussions featured contributions of the Member States including Türkiye, Mongolia, Thailand, Kazakhstan and China. Participants shared national strategies, such as Türkiye’s water efficiency campaigns, Mongolia’s “One Billion Trees” initiative, Thailand’s nature-based solutions, Kazakhstan’s new Water Code and China’s intelligent water monitoring systems, highlighting innovative approaches to water and climate challenges in the region. CICA Member States expressed common support for utilizing CICA’s potential to contribute to regional environmental cooperation, recognizing its growing engagement in this significant area alongside its broader mandate.
International organizations enriched the discussions with global and regional perspectives. Mr. Anshuman Varma from UNESCAP, emphasized their commitment to technical cooperation and knowledge exchange in thematic challenges such as glaciers’ preservation. Mr. Margulan Ibraimov from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) underscored shared challenges in the region and affirmed SCO’s readiness to deepen collaboration with CICA. Mr. Bakytzhan Arystanbek, from the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), highlighted water’s critical role in food security, detailing IOFS’s initiatives like water purification in Afghanistan and proposed structured knowledge exchange and joint programming to scale solutions.
The event reinforced CICA’s pivotal role in fostering climate diplomacy and trust among its Member States. The event concluded with a renewed commitment to solidarity, innovation and collective action to safeguard water resources and ecosystems for future generations.
