Perils of the Melt

Tajikistan's rapidly melting glaciers are threatening regional water security, agriculture, and hydropower, among other things-highlighting a global crisis resulting from climate change; write Ashok Khurana & Indira Khurana

- Ashok Khurana & Indira Khurana

Why is Tajikistan concerned about melting glaciers and why should we all be concerned? This year's theme for the United Nations World Water Day, celebrated on March 22, is Glacier Preservation. From this year, March 21 will be recognized as the World Day for Glaciers. In December 2022, the UN General Assembly had adopted a resolution declaring 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation. It also set up an International Trust Fund for the Preservation of Glaciers.

Various reports have found that the cryosphere—regions on Earth covered by snow and ice—are among the worst affected by climate change. UNESCO, which monitors some 18,600 glaciers across 50 of its World Heritage Sites, says one-third of those are set to disappear by 2050, whatever the temperature rise scenario. In the Hindukush Himalayas (HKH), alone, glaciers occupy approximately 73,173 sq km. These glaciers are melting at an unprecedented rate and the HKH could lose up to 75 per cent of their volume by the end of this century.

In June 2024 the authors travelled to Tajikistan via Uzbekistan to understand the situation of melting glaciers in the country and how this accelerated melting is affecting the country and the region.

In the west of Tajikistan, near the historic town of Penjikent, are the Haftkul or Seven lakes, which amaze everyone with their rich and ever-changing colour of the water. Haftkul is translated from Tajik as Seven Lakes. Each lake has its own name: the lowest and first lake, which is usually the starting point, is Nezhigon, then Soya, Hushyor, Nofin, Khurdak, the largest Marguzor, and the last Hazorchashma.