Glaciers are melting, and it sounds alarming. What about witnessing it with your own eyes? From September 4-8, within the “Mobilising Tajik Youth in Rural and Urban Areas to Tackle Climate Change” project the Little Earth has conducted the Expedition to GGP Glacier in Zarafshon valley. This initiative marks a milestone, as it is the first large-scale youth-led glacier expedition in the country. The activity given is a complementary initiative to the Climate Adventure Summer Camp. 12 out of 24 active members of the established Climate Action Groups (CAGs) and two urban youth representatives were selected during the 3-day Climate Summer Camp conducted earlier in August to participate in the Glacier Expedition.
The expedition also involved the young specialists from Center for Glacier Research under the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan who conducted on field trainings on glacier melt rates, the approaches which are applied in glacier studies. The experts of Little Earth conducted trainings on the impacts of climate change on glaciers and ecosystems and essential adaptation measures.
Tajikistan’s glaciers are often referred to as the "water towers" of Central Asia, playing a crucial role in the region’s water supply. The country has 14,509 glaciers, covering approximately 8% of its territory. However, climate change is accelerating glacial melt at an alarming rate. Current estimates indicate that the GGP Glacier is losing 1-2 meters of its mass annually and could disappear entirely by 2035-2040. This crisis highlights the urgent need for climate action and conservation efforts.
Despite the significance of glaciers to their environment and livelihoods, young people in the region have limited opportunities to engage in outdoor activities or environmental initiatives.
“This expedition provides a rare and valuable opportunity for young people to directly experience and study these rapidly changing landscapes and to understand the link between climate change, human factors in it and consequences of climate change on the example of melting glaciers. Their participation is an educational experience as well as a call to action—empowering the generation to advocate for and contribute to glacier conservation,” says Anton Timoshenko, the Executive Director of Little Earth.
Tajikistan’s glaciers are often referred to as the "water towers" of Central Asia, playing a crucial role in the region’s water supply. The country has 14,509 glaciers, covering approximately 8% of its territory. However, climate change is accelerating glacial melt at an alarming rate. Current estimates indicate that the GGP Glacier is losing 1-2 meters of its mass annually and could disappear entirely by 2035-2040. This crisis highlights the urgent need for climate action and conservation efforts.
Despite the significance of glaciers to their environment and livelihoods, young people in the region have limited opportunities to engage in outdoor activities or environmental initiatives.
“This expedition provides a rare and valuable opportunity for young people to directly experience and study these rapidly changing landscapes and to understand the link between climate change, human factors in it and consequences of climate change on the example of melting glaciers. Their participation is an educational experience as well as a call to action—empowering the generation to advocate for and contribute to glacier conservation,” says Anton Timoshenko, the Executive Director of Little Earth.
This initiative is especially timely as Tajikistan leads the Year of Glaciers campaign, emphasizing the importance of preserving these vital water sources. By actively involving young people, this initiative will foster awareness, scientific curiosity, and a sense of responsibility toward environmental stewardship in the face of climate change.
Disclaimer: "Mobilising Tajik Youth in Rural and Urban Areas to Tackle Climate Change" is a project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented in Tajikistan by Welthungerhilfe, in partnership with the Public Youth Environmental Organisation "Little Earth" and the PO "Youth Ecological Centre."
Disclaimer: "Mobilising Tajik Youth in Rural and Urban Areas to Tackle Climate Change" is a project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented in Tajikistan by Welthungerhilfe, in partnership with the Public Youth Environmental Organisation "Little Earth" and the PO "Youth Ecological Centre."