Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), arrived in Dushanbe, the capital of the Republic of Tajikistan, on Thursday, 29 May 2025, to take part in the International Conference on Glacier Preservation. The event is organized by Tajikistan in partnership with UNESCO, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The two-day conference, which will kick off today, will see the participation of a number of senior officials, heads of international organizations, climate action leaders, and environmental experts, with the aim of highlighting the economic and environmental importance of glaciers and discussing the adoption of an integrated international approach to mitigate the negative effects of melting ice on water and food security.

Ahead of the official sessions, a series of events took place, attended by Dr. Salim AlMalik, Ms. Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, and Ms. Dilrabo Mansuri, Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan, along with several ministers of environment and water from various countries. The events included an exhibition showcasing traditional Tajik crafts, followed by an official dinner featuring folk performances by groups from different regions of Tajikistan, reflecting the country’s cultural diversity.

Dr. AlMalik’s participation in the conference is part of ICESCO’s ongoing commitment to promoting international solidarity in the face of climate change and supporting scientific efforts and sustainable environmental practices across the Islamic world to help safeguard water and food security.

Dr. AlMalik will be accompanied by Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector at ICESCO, and Dr. Abdulhakeem Al Senan, Director of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku.