Faraz Saeed

DUSHANBE: World leaders and UN officials have convened in Dushanbe for a major international conference aimed at accelerating global cooperation and action on water sustainability ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference. The 4th High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action, &ldquo;Water for Sustainable Development&rdquo; (2018-2028) has commenced in Dushanbe, bringing together world leaders and senior United Nations officials to accelerate global action on water. Tajikistan, in partnership with the United Nations and key international stakeholders, is hosting the conference from May 25 to 28, 2026 in the capital. The meeting opens as countries continue efforts under the UN Water Action Decade framework, aimed at strengthening implementation of water-related development goals and international cooperation.&nbsp;Global water diplomacyTajikistan, as the initiator of the Water Action Decade and co-host of the United Nations 2023 Water Conference, continues to position Dushanbe as a central platform for global water diplomacy. The conference builds on the Dushanbe Water Process meetings held in 2018, 2022, and 2024, and serves as a preparatory step toward the 2026 UN Water Conference, while supporting progress on Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.&nbsp;Broad global participation&nbsp;The gathering brings together heads of state and government, ministers, UN entities, international and regional organizations, financial institutions, civil society, scientific institutions, youth, indigenous peoples, and the private sector. Discussions will focus on sustaining momentum from the UN 2023 Water Conference, advancing implementation of the Water Action Agenda, and initiating dialogue toward the 2028 UN Water Conference, which will also be hosted by Tajikistan.&nbsp;Program highlightsOver the coming days, participants will engage in high-level plenaries, nine thematic sessions aligned with the interactive dialogue structure of the 2026 UN Water Conference, pre-conference forums, side events, and an international exhibition. A regional preparatory meeting convened by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) is also bringing together countries across the Asia-Pacific region. Field visits will highlight Tajikistan&rsquo;s cultural heritage and its experience in water management and hydropower infrastructure.&nbsp;Expected outcomesThe conference is expected to conclude with a final declaration, a co-chairs&rsquo; summary, and a formal contribution to the 2026 UN Water Conference. A UN framing note describes the gathering as a platform to &ldquo;strengthen partnerships, foster innovation, mobilize financing, and accelerate concrete action&rdquo; on global water priorities.

Central Asia

The 4th High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action 'Water for Sustainable Development' will serve as a preparatory step toward the 2026 UN Water Conference, while supporting progress on Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.

World leaders gather in Dushanbe to advance global water agenda

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Minister for Climate Change, Dr Musadik Malik, held a meeting with Tajikistan&rsquo;s Ambassador Yusuf Sharifzoda in Islamabad to strengthen regional cooperation on climate and environmental challenges, the minister&rsquo;s office said in a post on X on Friday. The discussions focused on formalizing joint climate and conservation protocols between the two countries, which share significant ecological similarities. Both Pakistan and Tajikistan are home to around 13,000 glaciers each, making them among the most glacier-rich regions in the world. Officials noted that both countries have lost nearly 1,000 glaciers due to rising global temperatures, highlighting the urgency of coordinated climate action. Talks also explored the idea of a regional climate and trade corridor aimed at improving environmental cooperation while boosting sustainable economic links.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2055180002506027367&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=45e0dc866212ecc67dc924808ba0686663c25a73&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Another key area of discussion was cross-border wildlife conservation, particularly efforts to protect the endangered snow leopard, which inhabits mountainous regions across both countries. The two sides also emphasized the importance of coordinated water management strategies, given their shared reliance on glacier-fed water systems. The meeting reflects growing recognition of the need for regional diplomacy to address climate change and biodiversity loss. Dr Malik is set to further advance this agenda at the 4th High-Level Conference on Water for Sustainable Development in Dushanbe. The conference will be held from May 25 to 28 and is expected to bring together global leaders and policymakers to discuss sustainable water management and climate resilience.

Foreign Affairs

Climate & Environment

Pakistan and Tajikistan discussed joint climate action, glacier loss, water management and wildlife conservation, with plans to advance regional cooperation at an upcoming global conference in Dushanbe.

Articles tagged with "Dushanbe"

World leaders gather in Dushanbe to advance global water agenda

Pakistan, Tajikistan discuss joint climate and water initiatives

World leaders gather in Dushanbe to advance global water agenda