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Advancing Early Warning and Cryosphere Science: UNESCO at Dushanbe Conference
Organized by the Government of Tajikistan with the support of UNESCO, WMO, and other international partners, the event brought together global leaders, scientists, and regional experts to advance cooperation for glacier preservation and resilience in mountain regions.
The conference built on the momentum of the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP), declared by the UN General Assembly, and marked the beginning of the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences (2025–2034).
Forum on the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences
On 29 May, UNESCO organized a forum titled “From IYGP to Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences”. It served as a platform to align the vision of the International Year with long-term global priorities for research, education, and policy in the cryosphere. The discussions were held across three thematic panels related to the cryosphere: scientific research, education and capacity building; socio-economic impacts and resilience; and policy, advocacy, and financing. The forum was based on the outcomes of a recent brainstorming session hosted by UNESCO Headquarters, emphasizing the need to strengthen partnerships and resource mobilization, particularly for glacier-dependent regions such as Central Asia.
In continuation of these themes, UNESCO also co-chaired two linked sessions: Thematic Session 6, focused on bridging Indigenous knowledge, heritage, and community action, co-organized with ICIMOD; and Thematic Session 9, highlighting the latest cryosphere science, co-organized with WMO, IPCC, the University of Fribourg, and ICCI.
GLOFCA Project and Early Warnings for All
The UNESCO “Reducing vulnerabilities of populations in the Central Asia region from glacier lake outburst floods in a changing climate” (GLOFCA) project, funded by the Adaptation Fund, contributed to several sessions across the conference. Notably, the project was featured in Thematic Session 3: Glacial-related Hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction, organized under the global Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative.
A representative of the project team joined an expert panel to highlight the role of early warning systems (EWS) in reducing disaster risk. The session highlighted how the GLOFCA project combines scientific expertise with local knowledge to develop effective, community-based EWS for glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
“So, what have we learned? First, Early Warning Systems are not just hardware — they are human systems. Second, when Indigenous knowledge and youth are included, trust grows, and resilience becomes real. And third, the most sustainable early warning is the one that’s owned by the community, because they helped build it,” concluded Diana Aripkhanova, GLOFCA Project Officer.
The project was also represented in side events and forums on adaptation and transboundary water resilience, including discussions on regional cooperation.
The GLOFCA project is now preparing to install EWS and monitoring systems across four Central Asian countries during the summer of 2025. The installations will be followed by community training and drill exercises designed to strengthen preparedness and long-term sustainability.
GEF-UNDP-UNESCO Cryosphere Project
The GEF-UNDP-UNESCO “Strengthening the Resilience of Central Asian Countries by Enabling Regional Cooperation to Assess Glacio-nival Systems to Develop Integrated Methods for Sustainable Development and Adaptation to Climate Change” project (the Cryosphere project) also participated actively. During the Regional Forum on Glacier Monitoring and the Cryosphere in Central Asia, the project team joined a panel to discuss climate impacts and glacier monitoring and the importance of long-term planning through National Action Plans (NAPs) and a Joint Action Programme (JAP ). The forum also featured contributions from other regional initiatives, including the GLOFCA project.
The Cryosphere project also co-organized the Side Event 18: Climate Science and Research Inventory, which brought together ministers from all five Central Asian countries. Contributions from the Cryosphere Project focused on identifying scientific gaps in the region and opportunities for advancing a common science agenda ahead of the proposed 2026 Regional Environmental Summit.
As part of its scientific outreach, the University of Fribourg, the project’s implementing partner, also presented project findings and research results in multiple thematic sessions, including TS7: Glacier Monitoring Needs Worldwide, TS9: Latest Glacier and Cryosphere Science, and the forum Enhancing Transboundary Cooperation for Water Sustainability and Climate Resilience in Glacier-Dependent Basins of Central Asia. These interventions highlighted the project’s scientific contributions and helped position Central Asia in global cryosphere research efforts.
The Cryosphere project is currently at the stage of forming multi-institutional working group that will work on the development of NAPs and JAP for Central Asia countries.
Looking Ahead
The UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty remains committed to advancing cryosphere research, early warning systems, capacity building, and inclusive adaptation strategies across Central Asia. Through active participation in this high-level conference and ongoing implementation of regional projects such as GLOFCA and the Cryosphere Project, UNESCO continues to strengthen scientific cooperation and community resilience in response to climate-related glacier loss.
