Speech at the United Nations Ocean Conference

Ladies and gentlemen,

Today, preserving the oceans, which cover more than 70 percent of the planet's surface, is becoming one of humanity's most important tasks.

Contemporary threats to the oceans are a global problem and require collective action.

Although the Republic of Tajikistan does not have direct access to the oceans, it plays a key role in promoting the water and climate agenda.

Tajikistan's global initiatives, especially within the framework of the Dushanbe Water Process, have been bringing together United Nations member states, its agencies, regional and international structures, financial organizations, civil society, and other stakeholders for two decades to discuss global water issues and find ways to address them.

Dear friends,

The accelerated melting of glaciers, which are one of the main sources of fresh water, plays an important role in maintaining the global ecosystem.

Against the backdrop of unprecedented growth in demand for water, the rapid melting of glaciers and the reduction of their resources is causing serious concern to the international community.

Over the past few decades, more than 1,300 of Tajikistan's 14,000 glaciers have completely melted and disappeared.

Tajikistan's initiative to declare 2025 the International Year of Glacier Conservation has received widespread support.

According to the relevant UN General Assembly resolution, March 21 is celebrated annually as World Glacier Day. In addition, from May 29 to 31 this year, Tajikistan hosted the first High-Level International Conference on Glacier Conservation.

Given the accelerated melting of glaciers, this event became an important platform for discussing joint actions to address this problem.

Dear participants,

The conservation of oceans and water resources is a challenge facing all countries of the world, and it can only be solved through joint action and international cooperation.

In this regard, I propose increasing the number of global funds aimed at preserving coastal and marine ecosystems, as well as regions where freshwater sources are formed.

I am convinced that today's event will lay a solid and sustainable foundation for the implementation of new commitments in the field of protecting the ocean and marine flora and fauna.

Thank you for your attention!