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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Tajikistan

SDG 6 Reference — General Debate 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

Statement by His Excellency Mr. Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan

 

Over the past sixty years, an average annual temperature in Tajikistan has increased by one degree. 

It has resulted in increased number of days with heavy precipitations and intensity of natural hydro-meteorological phenomena, which have year after year been affecting all countries throughout the world. 

Tajikistan with 93% of its territory covered by mountains, bears losses equal to hundreds of millions of dollars annually as a result of water-related disasters. Such natural disasters often cause casualties. 

The areas of glaciers located in our country which are essential for all Central Asia have been noticeably reduced over the recent decades. 

One thousand out of thirteen thousand glaciers located in Tajikistan mountains have melted away so far. 

This happens although up to sixty percent of Central Asia's water resources is accumulated on the territory of Tajikistan.

This year, due to low precipitations in the winter we have seen a significant decline in water stock in the region’s rivers, which in turn led to low-water season during the irrigation and caused a severe drought. 

This situation causes a negative impact on the quantity and a quality of safe drinking water, as well as water-related sectors, particularly agriculture and energy. 

In connection with this circumstance, the countries of the region are concerned with the shifts in the hydrological cycle. 

We in this connection would like to call on the United Nations and other international and regional organizations to support Tajikistan with the expedition of glaciers in Central Asia. 

Tajikistan generates ninety nine percent of its electricity in hydro-electric power stations, that is from renewable ‘green’ energy sources. 

Our country is among the less carbon dioxide emitters in the world. 

In this context, I wish to once again offer the following proposals towards seeking the ways of addressing the climate change, which I had previously introduced in other international fora:

1. Encouragement of a widespread use of renewable energy sources, which would facilitate a friendly environment for the "green" economy development.

2. Comprehensive support by donor countries and international and regional financial institutions in an implementation of national strategies and programs for adaptation to climate change. 

3. Reinforce regular monitoring of the generation of water resources, especially glaciers. 

4. Strengthen international cooperation on protection of water resources and implementation of Tajikistan’s proposal to establish The International Glacier Preservation Fund. 

5. Deliverance of comprehensive financial and technical assistance by developed countries and international organizations to developing and least developed countries to monitor and preserve glaciers and other sources of water. 

We hope that our international partners will support further steps Tajikistan undertakes forward in these areas.

Mr. President,

The United Nations acknowledged Tajikistan as an initiator and champion country in advancing water agenda. 

Our country is the author of majority of the United Nations’ initiatives and resolutions on water, including “The International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” 2018 – 2028”. 

Owing to support of the UN member states we have been able to revive and strengthen the global water agenda over the past decades. 

Tajikistan’s Resolution entitled “Comprehensive Mid-Term Review of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” 2018 – 2028 which had been adopted in 2018 had further enriched the global water agenda. 

The Resolution along with other important goals and objectives, calls for convening the United Nations Conference on a Comprehensive Mid-Term Review of the International Decade for Action "Water for Sustainable Development" 2018 – 2028 in New York on March 2023. 

This event is valued as an important initiative in terms of support towards an implementation of the Decade and conduct of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. 

It is worth recalling that the last UN Conference on Water was held yet in 1977 in Mar de Plata, Argentina. 

It means that the United Nations will host the Water Conference after 46 years. 

We can confidently claim that the United Nations member states, UN specialized agencies and other organizations have been demonstrating a growing interest and utmost attention to the Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” while some nations have already expressed their willingness to host regional preparatory meetings.

Regretfully, spread of COVID-19 affected their plans and most of the scheduled events have been postponed. 

I hope that after the victory over the coronavirus pandemic, the stakeholder countries, along with Tajikistan, will be able to take full advantage of the opportunities and convene events they have scheduled. 

In conclusion, I would like to draw the attention of all United Nations member states to the draft Resolution proposed by Tajikistan on the UN Conference for a Comprehensive Mid-Term Review of the Implementation of the International Decade for Action "Water for Sustainable Development, 2018 – 2028". 

It is decided to review this Resolution at the UN General Assembly Session. I would like to encourage all distinguished delegates to support our initiative, like they have been so generous in supporting our previous Resolutions.

 

View the full statement here: https://estatements.unmeetings.org/estatements/10.0010/20200922/T3qdozGNpyYp/DrW5F0cIx0YO_en.pdf 

 

*The information reflected on this page has been quoted directly from the official statement presented by this Member State at the General Debate 75th Session. The information does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations.

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