- The lender launches the “Glaciers to Farms” program.
- Initiative to include risk assessments related to melting ice.
- It will also support communities in mountainous regions.
ISLAMABAD: As countries around the world continue to grapple with the worsening effects of climate change, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Sunday launched a new regional program ‘From Glaciers to Farms’ to promote sustainable use water and food security in Central Asia and the South Caucasus. and Pakistan.
The initiative will see the ADB, supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), carry out ice melt risk assessments in Azerbaijan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – forming the scientific and technical basis of the program , read the press release issued by the lender.
With temperatures in the region expected to rise by up to 6°C by the next century, the loss of glacial mass threatens the fragile balance of ecosystems, jeopardizing water supplies for agriculture and hydroelectricity and jeopardizing the livelihoods of more than 380 million people. .
A statement of support for glacier preservation was signed with ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa and GCF Chief Investment Officer Henry Gonzalez.
Signatories include COP29 President and Azerbaijani Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev; Kazakh Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Yerlan Nyssanbayev; Meder Mashiev, Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic; Bahodur Sheralizoda, Chairman of the Tajik Committee for Environmental Protection; and Uzbek Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change Aziz Abdukhakimov.
“As melting glaciers alter water flows, disrupt lives and destroy ecosystems, we must act now,” Asakawa said.
“As the climate bank of Asia and the Pacific, we are pleased to be joined by key partners to launch this program to drive international collaboration and deliver results where they matter most: on the ground , in communities at risk,” he added.
Glaciers to Farms plans to mobilize up to $3.5 billion from the AfDB, GCF, governments, development partners and the private sector, subject to approval by the boards of participating institutions.
In addition to investments in water and agriculture, the program will support vulnerable communities threatened by melting glaciers, particularly in fragile mountainous regions.
“The GCF recognizes the regional Glaciers to Farms program as a vital initiative to build climate resilience and promote sustainable development,” Gonzalez said.
“Recognizing the profound vulnerability of mountain communities and ecosystems, this program plays an instrumental role in safeguarding our precious water resources and empowering those most at risk.
“This program embodies the essential collaboration and innovative strategies needed to address the serious challenges posed by climate change. Together, we can build a resilient and sustainable future for all, especially for vulnerable populations who depend on our mountain landscapes” , he added.
The event was also attended by Minister of Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb and Georgian Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Genadi Arveladze.
Importance
Glaciers are providers of essential natural services, he adds, adding that they store fresh water that gradually melts, feeding rivers that support demand for agriculture, hydropower and drinking water beyond the national borders.
In upstream areas, shrinking glaciers decrease water flow, impacting local agriculture and worsening water shortages. Downstream, increased glacial runoff can cause flooding.
As glaciers continue to shrink, upstream and downstream communities face greater water and food insecurity and more risks to critical infrastructure.
Glaciers to Farms is one of several ADB initiatives to help Asia adapt to melting glaciers. In the Hindu Kush Himalaya, the ADB is establishing early warning systems and climate-resilient infrastructure.
In South and Southeast Asia, where monsoons reign, riverbanks strengthen the resilience of entire river basins.
The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2025 the International Year of Glacier Preservation, while Tajikistan will host the International Conference on Glacier Preservation in Dushanbe next year.