Fri Nov 15 03:23:13 UTC 2024: ## Over 1,000 Glaciers Vanish in Tajikistan, Raising Alarm at COP29
**Dushanbe, Tajikistan -** Tajikistan has lost over 1,000 glaciers in the past 30 years, according to the country’s Energy Minister, Daler Juma. This alarming figure was revealed on the sidelines of the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The disappearance of these glaciers poses a significant threat to the water security of the entire Central Asian region, which relies heavily on glacial meltwater for its rivers. Tajikistan alone boasts 14,000 glaciers, and the loss of over 1,000 represents a substantial blow to the region’s water resources.
Juma stressed the urgent need to address climate change, citing the rapid glacial melting as a major concern. “This is a serious threat in the global context of protecting water resources,” he said during an event organized by Kyrgyzstan, which is also facing a similar crisis.
UN scientists have issued dire warnings that all glaciers in Central Asia could vanish by the end of the century. This would lead to severe water shortages for the region’s 80 million inhabitants.
The alarming rate of glacial retreat underscores the urgent need for global action on climate change. The consequences of inaction are dire, threatening the water security and livelihoods of millions in Central Asia.
First Piper 