Central Asia Moves to Shield Glaciers

Ahead of World Day for Glaciers, learn what Central Asian states are doing to preserve their glaciers, and how the IAEA supports these efforts.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 12:50am

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Glaciers in Central Asia are melting faster than ever due to rising temperatures, which is shortening winters and prolonging summers. This is causing serious damage to the region's water resources, ecosystems, and economies. In response, the Central Asian states are enhancing their national capacities for glacier monitoring, working together on joint monitoring, and creating a comprehensive inventory of the region's glaciers. The IAEA is supporting these efforts by providing equipment, training scientists, and using isotope hydrology tools to improve evaluation of glacier retreat and its impact on water resources.

Why it matters

Glaciers are an essential source of freshwater for Central Asia, storing about 70% of Earth's freshwater. As glaciers continue to shrink and disappear, the water cycle is becoming more unpredictable, affecting water supply across the world. This loss is not just an environmental problem but also an economic one, potentially jeopardizing $4 trillion of global GDP by disrupting agriculture, urban water supplies, and energy production.

The details

Central Asian countries are taking several steps to preserve their glaciers, including enhancing national capacities for glacier monitoring, working together on joint monitoring, and creating a comprehensive inventory of the region's glaciers. The IAEA is supporting these efforts by providing equipment and training scientists to use isotope hydrology tools to improve evaluation of glacier retreat and its impact on water resources. The IAEA is also studying the impact of glacier retreat on soil and water resources using advanced nuclear and isotopic techniques.

  • In 2025, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2025 the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation.
  • In May 2025, the High-Level International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation resulted in the adoption of the Dushanbe Glaciers Declaration.
  • 2025 also marks the start of the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences, a global effort to advance research and international collaboration on Earth's frozen regions.

The players

Shavkat Mirziyoyev

President of Uzbekistan.

Emomali Rahmon

President of Tajikistan.

Sadyr Japarov

President of Kyrgyzstan.

Yuliya Vystavna

An IAEA isotope hydrologist.

Gerd Dercon

Head of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre's Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Laboratory.

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What they’re saying

“The consequences of global climate change are felt in each of our countries. Rising temperatures, melting glaciers, floods, droughts, dust storms and many other challenges continue to cause serious damage.”

— Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan

“To date, more than 1000 of Tajikistan's 14 000 glaciers have completely melted. Over the past few decades the total volume of glaciers in our country - which make up more than 60% of the water resources in the Central Asian region - has decreased by almost a third.”

— Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan

“If this trend continues, a significant part of the glaciers may disappear by the end of the century. This is not just statistics, this is a direct threat to the lives and well-being of millions of people, who depend on glaciers as a source of fresh water.”

— Sadyr Japarov, President of Kyrgyzstan

“In the arid lands of Central Asia, isotope hydrology bridges the past and present. It traces ancient climate imprints and current glacier melt to guide sustainable water use in a region where every drop counts.”

— Yuliya Vystavna, IAEA isotope hydrologist

“By combining nuclear science with local expertise, we empower scientists and policymakers to turn data into action for climate resilience.”

— Gerd Dercon, Head of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre's Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Laboratory

What’s next

The IAEA will work with the Central Asian countries to develop a roadmap for establishing a regional network within the IAEA's Global Water Analysis Laboratory (GloWAL) Network.

The takeaway

The Central Asian states are taking proactive steps to preserve their glaciers, a critical source of freshwater, by enhancing monitoring, collaboration, and scientific research. With support from the IAEA, they are using advanced nuclear and isotopic techniques to better understand glacier retreat and its impact on water resources, informing sustainable management strategies to build climate resilience in the region.