XIEG Initiative on Glacier Protection in Tajikistan Endorsed by UN Science Decade
2026-07-10
A research initiative proposed by the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences(XIEG) has been officially included in the endorsed activities list of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (IDSSD).
The initiative, titled “Glacier Protection, Disaster Assessment, and Sustainable Development Pathways in Tajikistan, Central Asia” (short name: GDP-Tajikistan), was recognized as a “Project” category. It is scheduled to be featured and promoted at the UN Global Conference of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development, which will convene at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on July 15, 2026.
The UN resolution on the “International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024-2033)” was adopted by the UN General Assembly in August 2023, aiming to foster global scientific cooperation for sustainable development.
The endorsed initiative, developed by XIEG’s research team, builds upon longstanding collaboration among multiple institutions. Its inclusion signifies the sustained contributions of Chinese researchers to glacier conservation, disaster risk assessment, and sustainable development studies in Central Asia.
This achievement underscores XIEG’s growing international influence in Central Asian glacier research and disaster risk management. It also offers a new platform for Chinese scientific institutions to engage deeply in global partnerships for sustainable development.
The project focuses on Tajikistan, where 85% of the territory is at risk from glacial floods and debris flows amid climate warming. The initiative will assess glacier changes, project hydrological trends, evaluate disaster risks, conduct hazard zoning, and explore hydropower and water-energy-food synergies, ultimately aiming to propose strategies for disaster mitigation and sustainable resource use.
For details, please see:https://www.un-sciences-decade.org/en/endorsed-activities/glacier-protection-disaster-assessment-and-sustainable-development-pathways-tajikistan-central-asia
Contact
Ms. HUANG
Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography
E-mail: zlhuang@ms.xjb.ac.cn