By H.E. Dr. Erkinknon Rahmatullozoda, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tajikistan to BENELUX, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Tajikistan to the European Union and NATO
(Dedicated to the upcoming UN 2023 Water Conference)
“We cannot continue to take water for granted and expect to achieve Sustainable Development Goals” António Guterres
The article begins with the quote of H.E. Mr. Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General for a reason.
Indeed, today, many of us do not properly value water – the unique resource of our planet. Water is considered to be an essential necessity for the functioning of all walks of life and one of the crucial and paramount required resources humanity possesses. It is not possible to imagine the functioning of the world without water.
Mr. Guterres from the first days of his work, after assuming the post of Secretary-General of the UN on January 1st, 2017, began to promote the objectives of “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” with its 17 goals (SDGs), which was adopted by all the member states of the UN in 2015.
The SDGs as a common plan of the world community for peace and prosperity for all nations and the entire planet are considered to be an effective and efficient tool in fighting inequality and injustice, ending poverty, and tackling climate change until 2030.
The SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation encompasses tasks and obligations aimed at addressing everything from the efficiency of water usage issues, pollution, and water quality to how water is managed; it defines the critical role of all players from international governments to local communities.
Mr. A. Guterres, had made prominent progress in water-related issue management processes prior to taking over the post of the UN General-Secretary. The “Albufeira Convention”, signed when he was Prime Minister of Portugal, continues to promote good relations on water management between Spain and Portugal to this day. The Convention was designed to be a political, legal, and technical framework to solve common water challenges between Portugal and Spain.
During his trip to Tajikistan and visit to Sarez Lake back in 2017, the Secretary-General was stunned by the beauty of the country and its enormous water resources and noted: “…People in Europe spend lots of money to construct dams and artificial lakes while Tajikistan has God-given water resources and tremendous dam Sarez”. He also mentioned that the endeavours of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the endless efforts of President Rahmon in achieving Sustainable Development Goals are highly appreciated.
The vision of the United Nations Secretary-General on water problems, his understanding of the value of water, the necessity and importance of water for life, as well as desire to find solutions and share them with the entire world community are similar to the wise water policy of H.E. Mr. Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan.
On September 29, 1993, for the first time in the history of the Tajik people, the President of Tajikistan delivered a speech at the world’s most influential tribune – at the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, in which he outlined the creative plans, peaceful goals and goodwill of the newly independent state of Tajikistan to all members of the international community.
Since then, President Rahmon, during all his statements at the sessions of the UNGA, while addressing the Assembly, constantly reaffirms Tajikistan’s readiness to advance water and climate issues at all levels, especially in cooperation with the United Nations.
The state policy of the Republic of Tajikistan in the field of water is aimed at tackling pressing, social and economic issues of the region and the world. In this connection, the Republic of Tajikistan has made specific, constructive, and forward-looking proposals at prestigious platforms of international organizations. Now, Tajikistan is accepted by the international community as the initiator of this vital field.
One of the critical and pivotal processes of the international actions of Tajikistan at the global level is the expansion and coordination of the policies of the countries of the region and the world in the direction of addressing the issues of using and protecting water sources for the sustainable existence of humanity. At the same time, the fact of coming together of representatives of different countries of the world in international water events proves that water has become one of the important factors of international cooperation and guarantee of peace.
During the years of its independence, Tajikistan was lucky enough to come up with several initiatives in the area of water resources and it continues to provide international platforms for the world community to gather and address existing water challenges.
Global water-related initiatives
In fact, the initiatives of the Republic of Tajikistan in addressing water issues are considered important and timely, because according to the data of regional and international organizations, more than 750 million people do not have access to safe drinking water, and it is expected that taking into account the gradual growth of the population, by 2030, almost 40 per cent of the inhabitants of the world will face the problem of water shortage.
We can observe the reflection of constructive and direct initiatives of Tajikistan in the protection of world water resources in the following stages:
– proposal of the Republic of Tajikistan at the 54th Session of the UNGA on October 1, 1999 – declaring 2003 as the Year of Clean Water. Based on this initiative, on September 20, 2000, at the 55th Session of the UN General Assembly, 2003 was announced as the International Year of Clean Water. On August 29 – September 1, 2003, the International Forum on Fresh Water was held in Dushanbe;
– proposal of the Republic of Tajikistan to declare 2005-2015 as the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”. On December 23, 2003, the General Assembly of the UN, based on the Dushanbe Declaration, declared 2005-2015 as the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”;
– the initiative of Tajikistan to declare 2013 as the international year of cooperation in the field of water. In 2013, the international community, due to the UNGA Resolution 67/204, authored by Tajikistan, marked the International Year of Cooperation in the Water Sector. The opening ceremony of that was held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on February 11, 2013;
– proposal of the Republic of Tajikistan to declare the years 2018-2028 as the International Decade of Action “Water for Sustainable Development”. This initiative was officially declared in 2016 by the UN. It is worth mentioning that this initiative was presented for the first time by the President of the Republic of Tajikistan on April 12, 2015, during the World Water Forum in Daegu, Republic of Korea, and was warmly welcomed by the Forum attendees.
As an author of decent initiatives in the water sphere, Tajikistan has hosted a wide range of relevant events, including international conferences, providing an excellent platform for the world community to address water and climate change issues.
High-Level International Conference on Water Cooperation, 20-21 August, 2013
The High-Level International Conference on Water Cooperation took place on 20-21 August, 2013 in Dushanbe, in line with the objectives of the UN’s relevant resolution and to promote increased water cooperation by stakeholders at all levels.
To participate in this conference, more than 900 high-ranking guests and well-known specialists and experts from more than 70 countries of the world and numerous regional and international organizations visited Tajikistan.
The Conference was composed of high-level panels on water collaboration, including cooperation for human development, water cooperation for economic benefits, water cooperation for ecosystems, water cooperation across boundaries, water collaboration and gender, water cooperation and capacity building, water cooperation and sectoral synergies, and triggers and catalysts for water cooperation. The Conference concluded with the adoption of a Declaration.
High-Level International Conference on the implementation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, 2005-2015, 9-10 June, 2015
High-Level International Conference on the implementation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, 2005-2015 took place on 9-10 June, 2015 in Dushanbe.
The conference was held by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in cooperation with the UN structures and other development.
The core objective of the conference was to evaluate the progress achieved during the implementation of the ten-year goals and to determine further efforts to ensure the sustainable development of water resources.
The conference brought together more than 1,500 participants from more than 100 countries and regions of the world, representing Governments, UN agencies, international organizations, civil society, and other stakeholders.
As a result of the event Declaration of the High-Level International Conference on the implementation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, 2005-2015 was adopted.
High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028, 20-22 June, 2018
On the initiative of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, in cooperation with the United Nations and other partners, on June 20, 2018, in the city of Dushanbe, the High-Level International Conference on the international of the Decade of action “Water for sustainable development”, 2018-2028, was held. The key goal of the event was to promote political action and dialogue on the water for sustainable development.
More than 1500 guests from 120 countries of the world, including heads of state/governments, leaders and senior representatives of foreign policy, and other relevant ministries and agencies participated in the conference. Leaders and representatives of international and regional organizations such as the United Nations, OSCE, European Union, World Bank, CSTO, SCO, CIS, IFAS, etc., international financial institutions and development partners, water basin organizations, research institutes, and scientists were actively involved in the event.
More than 300 representatives of local and foreign media were registered to cover the international high-level event.
At the end of the Conference its outcome document – Dushanbe Declaration was adopted.
The Second High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action «Water for Sustainable Development», 2018-2028, 6-9 June, 2022, Dushanbe
The Second High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action «Water for Sustainable Development», 2018-2028 entitled «Catalyzing Water Action and Partnership at the Local, National, Regional and Global Levels» took place on 6-9 June 2022 in Dushanbe.
During the high-level conference, which was held on the initiative of Tajikistan and supported by the United Nations in the capital city of Tajikistan – Dushanbe, leaders and high-ranking representatives of 177 countries of the world, 30 UN agencies, and more than 30 regional and international organizations and financial institutions visited Tajikistan.
Some heads of state and leaders of international organizations participated virtually (via VTC) in the work of the Dushanbe Water Conference.
A large number of domestic and foreign reporters covered the course and results of the event.
The main objectives and tasks of the second Conference were to identify ways and mechanisms for implementing the goals of the International Water Decade, striving to achieve the SDGs related to water; further steps in the implementation of the Decade Action Plan at the global, regional and national levels were also discussed.
Following the event, the “Dushanbe Declaration” has been issued from the Second High-level Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” 2018-2028.
UN 2023 Water Conference
Needless to say, this year’s Dushanbe Conference played a crucial role in the preparations for the United Nations 2023 Water Conference.
The recently hosted high-level conference in Dushanbe has greatly contributed to the important international gathering for coordination and integration of the results of other international events, including the Bonn Dialogue, the 9th World Water Forum, the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit in conjunction with the upcoming events – the United Nations Oceans Conference and the 27th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Climate Change, UN 2023 Water Conference and other regional and international events.
The United Nations 2023 Water Conference, known as the 2023 Conference for the Midterm Comprehensive Review of Implementation of the UN Decade for Action on Water and Sanitation (2018-2028), is scheduled for 22-24 March 2023, at the UN HQ in New York.
Tajikistan and the Netherlands, as co-chairs of the 2023 Conference in cooperation with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the UN-Water mechanism, established close collaboration with the UN member states and other relevant institutions and organizations in the process of preparing for this conference.
The conference will include an opening and closing session, six plenary sessions, and five interactive dialogues, as well as side events organized by participants. It will result in a summary of proceedings from the UNGA President that will feed into the 2023 UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) session.
There is no doubt that this Conference, which will be held by the UN after almost 50 years, should become a historic event with positive results and great outcomes.
The year 2023 is also important in terms of the mid-term review of the SDGs, and the evaluation of the 1st phase of the Decade “Water for Sustainable Development” will accelerate and encourage efforts to achieve the water-related SDGs.
Tajikistan, as co-chair of the crucial international event – the UN 2023 Water Conference declares its willingness and readiness to collaborate, together with the Kingdom of the Netherlands and partners from the United Nations, with all member states and other stakeholders to develop specific messages for the 2023 Conference.
Tajikistan’s involvement in hosting the UN 2023 Water Conference is another international effort toward the achievement of aims and tasks of the UN water agenda.
Today, the problems related to climate change are causing a huge barrier to achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Tajikistan and many other different countries.
Tajikistan, as a mountainous country is seriously concerned about all the climate-related changes, including the hydrological cycle, which often causes terrible floods and severe droughts leading to adverse impacts and negative repercussions on food security, energy, and water.
Annually, Tajikistan loses millions of US dollars as a result of water-borne disasters; most often natural disasters take away people’s lives and destroy vital infrastructure.
As a grand supporter of all the UN decisions on climate change, Tajikistan constantly takes an active part in sessions of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (COP), as well as other relative events of the UN member states.
Furthermore, Tajikistan, along with the world community, is committed to frequently taking action so as to contribute to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and accelerating the efforts of the international community in fighting climate change.
The melting of glaciers is considered to be one of the severest consequences of the climate change process. As a result of climate change and unprecedented warming, more than 1,000 out of the 13,000 glaciers in Tajikistan’s mountains have completely melted.
It is really scary to imagine that all these fast melting processes are happening in Tajikistan – in a country that possesses 60% of Central Asia’s water resources that originate from its glaciers.
Ranking 135th among all the countries in the world in terms of carbon dioxide emissions, Tajikistan generates 96 per cent of its electricity in hydropower plants.
The Republic of Tajikistan persistently comes up with clear proposals on various platforms and different international events aimed at finding ways to tackle the problems associated with climate change. Tajikistan’s President has proposed, during his active participation at the first high-level meeting of the World Water and Climate Coalition, to proclaim 2025 as the International Year for Preservation of Glaciers, which is definitely may help attract firm belief and more attention to the international community to the climate change and water issues, as well as melting of glaciers.
In a nutshell, upon considering all the facts above, it is worth noting that throughout the period of independence, Tajikistan was able to maintain its position and influence as a country that initiated humanitarian ideas, as well as forward-looking initiatives and long-term plans linked to the issues related to water, climate, and ecology, which are absolutely considered one of the key topics of the Sustainable Development Agenda; Tajikistan succeeded, as a “leading country”, to make an adequate contribution to the solution of the existing water and climate problems.
It would be appropriate to emphasize once again the importance of the upcoming UN 2023 Water Conference and the commitment of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands to host and coordinate one of the most predominant water events of the United Nations.
Indeed, water means existence; water is a continuation, and water is life. The following words of H.E. Mr. Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan are best placed to describe the colossal and considerable role of water for humanity: “Most likely no one can deny that water is the most precious resource in human life because water is life, water is development and water is a secured future for the new generations. We need to make every effort to ensure that all these slogans become a reality“.
