Participation in the Fourth High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action, "Water for Sustainable Development, 2018–2028"

On May 26, the Fourth High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action, "Water for Sustainable Development, 2018–2028", started its work in Dushanbe. President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation, Honorable Emomali Rahmon, attended and delivered an opening address.

The conference began with a joint photo ceremony for guests and heads of foreign delegations.

In his address, Emomali Rahmon, welcoming the participants of the high-level forum to Tajikistan, wished them a successful and productive work.

He called the conference an important milestone in addressing one of the most pressing issues facing the world today – expanding access to water.

It was noted that in recent years, Tajikistan has taken a series of practical measures to place water at the center of the international development agenda. In this regard, our country has made continuous efforts through its initiatives in the field of water, which have always been supported by the United Nations General Assembly.

According to the Leader of the Nation, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, Tajikistan's efforts are aimed at improving the status and value of water, the invaluable resource of life, and the country continues to advocate for a balanced and inclusive approach in this field. The proclamation of the International Decade for Action, "Water for Sustainable Development," stands as a clear testament to our collective efforts in this direction.

President Emomali Rahmon emphasized that, within the framework of the Dushanbe Water Process, Tajikistan continues its efforts to create an inclusive and transparent international platform.

In his address, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan drew the attention of conference participants to the challenges that continue to impede progress toward the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6.

It was underlined that billions of people currently lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation services, with nearly 4 billion people experiencing severe water shortages for at least one month each year. These trends indicate that these challenges will intensify significantly in the future.

According to new expert research, the world's demand for drinking water will increase by at least 25 percent by 2050, requiring the production of 50 percent more food for the growing population.

At the same time, the Head of State emphasized that, according to forecasts, almost half of the world's urban population will face water shortages. New and rapidly developing sectors, including "green" industries, urban development, food production, and digital infrastructure, will further increase water demand.

In this regard, it was highlighted that these trends redouble the need for a transition to water-efficient technologies, efficient resource management, and better coordination of water, energy, and food policies.

The President recalled Tajikistan's initiatives at the national and regional levels to address existing challenges and emphasized the adoption of the National Water Strategy for the Period up to 2040 and the State Program for Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation for 2025-2029, aimed at accelerating progress toward the achievement of SDG 6.

Tajikistan intends to ensure the full implementation of coordinated water resources management at the national and basin levels by 2030, and to establish a modern, science-based, sustainable, and efficient system. Tajikistan also plans to scale up water-saving technologies by more than forty times, making the efficient use of this invaluable resource a key tool for climate change adaptation.

Continuing his speech, President Emomali Rahman pointed out that Tajikistan attaches particular importance to developing transboundary cooperation in the water sector, and that it is continuously striving to further strengthen trust, partnership, and constructive dialogue in Central Asia on addressing critical water issues.

In this context, Tajikistan views the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea as a helpful regional platform for discussing and resolving a range of water issues for sustainable development, and considers it necessary to establish an Interstate Energy Commission for Central Asia within its framework.

The Head of State, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, noted that it is essential to start thinking now about the global water agenda beyond 2030, and that our further actions in this direction should be built on the achievements of the Decade, the Water Action Agenda, and the experience of the Dushanbe Water Process, and should be directed at addressing the growing challenges related to water.

The Head of State recalled that in recent years, the International Decade for Action, "Water for Sustainable Development," and the Water Action Agenda have created a solid foundation for addressing water issues. However, despite this, we continue to face significant challenges in overcoming them, in the interests of the planet's present and future.

It was noted that today there is a pressing need to move to a new stage of global cooperation in the water sector. To this end, the creation of the "Dushanbe Framework for Water Issues" was proposed. This framework could strengthen current processes in the water sector and create a favorable basis for coordinating and consolidating joint efforts to achieve practical results.

At the end of his speech, the Head of State, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, announced that the International Water Award of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan had been established to promote and strengthen water diplomacy and unite the efforts of the global community for a sustainable and secure future.

As emphasized, this award aims to recognize outstanding contributions to the development of international cooperation, scientific research, sustainable water policy, and the promotion of effective solutions to global water problems.

Prolonged applause from those present demonstrated that this news was welcomed by the forum participants.

Following the address by the Leader of the Nation, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, speeches were delivered by heads of government delegations from various countries, representatives of international and regional organizations, and high-level experts, including Prime Minister of the Republic of Burundi, Nestor Ntahontuye, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic -Minister of Agriculture and Processing Industry, Erlist Akunbekov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, Tangryguly Atakhalliyev, United Nations Special Envoy, Retno Marsudi, UN Under-Secretary-General, Li Junhua, President of the UN Economic and Social Council, Lok Bahadur Thapa, Vice-President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Mark Bowman, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, and Rector of the United Nations University - UN Under-Secretary-General, Professor Tshilidzi Marwala.

It is worth noting that the Kokhi Somon Complex, the Residence of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, brought together 2,500 participants from 110 countries, high-level representatives of 75 international and regional organizations, and experts from 170 research institutions worldwide. Furthermore, the forum was covered by over 300 journalists from domestic and international media.