Forum on Water and Climate Risks: Science, Monitoring and Management Co-hosted by RCEECA
2026-06-12
On May 25, under the framework of the 4th High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028, the forum “Water and Climate Risks: Science, Monitoring and Management” was successfully held at the National Library of Tajikistan.
The event was jointly organized by the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences (XIEG), the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan (CoESCD), and the Dushanbe Branch of CAS ResearchCenter for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia (RCEECA).
The forum was supported by the World Bank, World Food Programme (WFP), UNESCO, UNICEF and many other international organizations, financial institutions and non-governmental organizations, and attracted over 100 experts, scholars and policy-makers.
Centering on challenges in monitoring, assessment and governance of mountain water and climate risks amid global climate change, the forum promoted the in-depth integration of scientific research, policymaking and international collaboration. Rooted in practical solutions and cutting-edge monitoring technologies, participants explored actionable pathways to boost water security and climate resilience across mountainous regions worldwide.
Ziyozoda Sulaymon, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan; General Rajabali Rahmonali, Chairman of the CoESCD; Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP); and Academician Kobiljon Khushvakhtzoda, President of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, together with other distinguished guests, attended the forum and delivered important addresses.
During the keynote session, Prof. ZHANG Yuanming, Director of XIEG and RCEECA, reviewed fruitful China-Tajikistan cooperative achievements in deformation monitoring of Sarez Lake, climate change impacts on glaciers and water resources, as well as highway snow disaster monitoring and early warning. He expressed gratitude for wide recognition of bilateral cooperation outcomes and put forward concrete plans and implementation routes for future priority cooperation areas.
Attendees shared latest research findings in hydrology, seismology and glaciology, assessed compound risks triggered by climate change and geological activities, showcased technological innovations such as remote sensing and artificial intelligence, and put forward policy proposals covering monitoring early-warning systems, risk management and regional ecological conservation.
All participants agreed that scaling up modern technologies, improving research capacity and expanding international cooperation for disaster prevention and mitigation are critical to safeguarding regional environmental security and advancing sustainable development.
As a key scientific event within the ongoing High-Level Conference, the forum serves as a vital platform for global exchanges on water security, climate change mitigation and glacial protection. Its outcomes will facilitate the achievement of the goals set by the UN “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028” and provide strategic guidance for enhancing resilience and security in mountainous zones globally.
Opening Ceremony.
Address by Deputy Prime Minister Ziyozoda Sulaymon.
Keynote Speech by Director ZHANG Yuanming.
Group Photo.
Contact
Ms. HUANG
Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography
E-mail: zlhuang@ms.xjb.ac.cn