Official Statement of the Delegation of the Republic of Tajikistan

Every year, natural disasters caused by climate change pose enormous damage and additional burdens on the economies of our countries. And climate change adaptation is one of the key mechanisms to address these problems.

On the platforms of the Global Platform, the issue of coordination of actions in the field of disaster risk reduction, sustainable development and climate change has been identified as an important priority.

On this basis, the Republic of Tajikistan takes effective measures to ensure that the issues of disaster risk reduction, sustainable development and climate change are strictly coordinated.

It should be noted that this issue has been taken into account during the development and adoption of the National Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for Disaster Risk Reduction for 2019-2030.

We all understand that the climate emergency is the greatest economic, social and environmental threat that the planet and humanity are facing.

Global changes, including climate change, significantly increase the risks of natural disasters related to water resources. Our country, with 93 percent of its territory made up of mountains, is one of the vulnerable countries in the climate change process.

More than 1,000 small and medium-sized glaciers in Tajikistan have disappeared in the past 30 years as a result of intensive glacier melting alone.

Average annual losses caused by natural disasters amount to 20 to 30 million dollars and these losses do not include rehabilitation and reconstruction costs.

Tajikistan, taking into account the peculiarities of the growing water problem and importance of water resources for achieving sustainable development, actively and consistently promotes the water issue within the global development agenda.

Since 2000, on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, the UN General Assembly has adopted a number of resolutions aimed at addressing water issues on the international agenda, including the fourth initiative of Tajikistan - the International Decade for Action "Water for Sustainable Development", 2018-2028.

It should be noted that another important event on this topic is planned to be held on 6-9 June, 2022 in Dushanbe - the 2nd International High Level Conference of the International Decade for Action "Water for Sustainable Development".

One of the positive examples of disaster risk reduction management and climate change actions in our country is establishing permanent consultative and advisory management bodies.

Tajikistan can share its experience in addressing these important issues on the example of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, which unites both the leading ministries and agencies and representatives of international organizations and donor countries as observers.

In order to ensure timely response and protection of population from natural disasters the State Commission for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Tajikistan was established in the Republic of Tajikistan.

At present a number of major international projects in the field of disaster risk management are being successfully implemented in Tajikistan in order to accelerate achievement of the Sendai Framework Program.

In implementation of these projects, we follow the direction of using the ecosystem approach, integrating the aspects of DRR and climate change adaptation into development programs, thus contributing to the sustainable development of the country.

It is worth to emphasize the Global Platform for DRR in May and the Dushanbe Water Conference in June, as key milestones to advocate for risk-based discourse within the Midterm review of the Water Action Decade in 2023, and its alignment with the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework, which will also culminate in 2023.

Leveraging synergies between both midterm review processes will provide an opportunity to identify adjustments that promote riskinformed development in the sustainable management of water and related ecosystems, and to converge lessons and best practices in disaster risk management, integrated water resources management and climate adaptation.

The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan expresses its hope that the international community, influential financial institutions will continue to make efforts on cooperation to address important issues on DRR and adaptation to climate change.

Tajikistan is committed to use all available potential to achieve the objectives of the Sendai Framework. I wish all of us fruitful cooperation and success in solving the set tasks.