IOM presents at the 3rd High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action "Water for Sustainable Development," 2018-2028

Dushanbe, Tajikistan – Mountainous areas are highly vulnerable to climate change. Global warming of 1.5ºC and above is projected to have severe impacts on mountain systems, including glacier retreat, water scarcity,  and biodiversity loss. These impacts exacerbate pre-existing inequalities, especially for those reliant on natural rainfall for their livelihoods.

Sudden onset hazards can lead to displacement, while migration can be a potential climate change adaptation measure if  managed well. Planned evacuations from disaster-affected areas are crucial for saving lives, and labour migration to urban areas and abroad remains a traditional livelihood strategy in mountain areas. Remittances contribute significantly to GDP and social protection. IOM believes that supporting stakeholders in mountain areas to address these challenges and effectively mainstream migration into climate change adaptation is essential for advancing water action.

In light of these challenges, Government delegates, representatives from academia, NGOs, and  international organisations, and many more flocked to Dushanbe, Tajikistan from 10-13 June 2024 for the Third High-Level International Conference on the Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”.

On 11 June 2024, IOM presented a side-event as part of the US-funded Asian Regional Migration Program entitled Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change in Mountain Areas moderated by Zeynal Hajiev, Subregional Coordinator for Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan). The key discussions of this event were Tajikistan’s National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and the mobility of people in the context of climate change in mountainous regions.

IOM was joined by speakers from the Agency for Hydrometeorology of Tajikistan, the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic, the State Environmental Regulation and Control Committee of Kazakhstan and specialists from the Mountain Partnership Secretariat. The speakers discussed the impact of global warming on mountain ecosystems, particularly glacier retreat and increased water scarcity, and the impact this has on communities living in these regions such as heightened inequality and vulnerability among populations dependent on natural rainfall for their livelihoods.

A central topic was the movement of households and communities as an adaptation response to climate change in Central Asia with focus placed on the importance and risks involved with planned evacuation from high-risk areas and the importance of tapping into remittances and diaspora as a means of climate adaptation. Participants also emphasized the need for collective efforts and improved data collection in mountainous regions to develop effective adaptation strategies and water resource management.

The side event brought together experts from the region and various partner organizations to discuss human mobility in the context of climate change in mountain areas. The event focused on the challenges in Central Asia, featuring engaging discussions with numerous questions and answers. Most importantly, there was a consensus on the critical importance of building partnerships to address the challenges posed by climate change.

Countries shared their experiences on integrating the nexus between human mobility and climate change into their national adaptation and concrete action plans.  It was particularly interesting to observe one country’s commitment to eliminating carbon emissions and how others are learning from its approach.

For more information, please contact Mohira Fayzulloeva (mfayzulloea@iom.int)