ВЫСТУПЛЕНИЕ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА РТ НА КОНФЕРЕНЦИИ ООН ПО ИЗМЕНЕНИЮ КЛИМАТА (АНГЛИЙСКАЯ ВЕРСИЯ)

Statement by the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Mr. Emomali Rahmon at the 15th Conference of the Parties to theUN Framework Convention on Climate Change                 Excellency President,                Distinguished heads of delegations,                Dear ladies and gentlemen,                I would like to express my appreciation to the Government of Denmark for creation of favorable conditions for a fruitful and successful work of this Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The participation of leaders of more than 100 countries around the world is an evidence of a common commitment and determination to prevent the negative effects of global climate change, one of the most serious problems of the modern world. Here in Copenhagen, in these days the future of our planet and next generations is being resolved. I’m firmly convinced, that each of us clearly aware of this and will make every effort to help keeping healthy environment and planet for our children and future generations. Simply we have no other choice.                 Ladies and gentlemen,                 It is scientifically proved that our planet's climate is changing not the first time. However, the current climate change is due, mainly, caused by the individual and is fraught with serious negative consequences for all countries and for every individual around the globe.Tajikistan because of difficult geographic conditions is becoming more vulnerable to ongoing climate changes, the average annual temperature has increased to 1оC over the past 60 years and a number of days with heavy rainfall have become more often.                 Only in the last 20 years the country has suffered four severe drought years. According to available estimation, the drought of 2000 — 2001 which covered the whole of Central Asia was the most severe over the past decades. The region was experiencing an acute shortage of water due to which hundreds of thousands of hectares of irrigated land became useless. On the other hand, the winter in 2007 – 2008 was one of the most rigorous winters in the history of the country to date.                   The largest number of persistent days (26) with an average temperature below -12оС was observed in the valleys of Tajikistan for the first time. As a result of abnormal weather in the spring of 2009, natural disasters have embraced more than 40 areas of the country. The damage caused by natural disasters was estimated at more than 100 million U.S. dollars.                 All these phenomena, in turn, lead to severe negative consequences that affect the living standards and significantly reduce capability and potential of the country in achieving sustainable development. And to our deepest regret, sometimes people lose their lives.                  However, the key factor of these processes is undoubtedly the intensive melting of snowfields and glaciers. Over the past decades, the glaciers of Tajikistan have dwindled by 1/3. It should be noted that along with the impact of climate change on the active melting of glaciers, desiccation of the Aral Sea has influenced this process to some extent as well. Every year thousands of tons of dust and salt blown up by the wind from the bottom of the dry Aral Sea into the atmosphere and are diffused to vast areas.                  According to the estimations of experts, some part of salts settles on the glaciers of the Pamir and Tien Shan, facilitating their intensive melting.                  In addition to that, Tajikistan is among the countries with the lowest impact on the global warming.                  Tajikistan stands 150th among 200 countries in the world for carbon dioxide emissions. It stands the last in Central Asia in the rate and its share in the regional value of emission amounts less than 5%. This is explained mainly by the use of hydropower resources, that provides clean and ecologically safe energy. The hydropower plants generate more than 95% of the power in the country which, unlike thermal power plants are not sources of harmful emissions.                  Distinguished delegates,                  I would like to dwell on another important aspect of global climate change — its impact on the fresh water resources of the planet. It is known, that water — an irreplaceable resource, of fundamental significance to sustainable development, preservation of life on the planet, health and welfare of the world. Today, against the background of climate change on land, especially in arid regions of the planet, the issues of water supply of population and development sectors of economies that depend on freshwater have become critical. It is disturbing fact that the resources of fresh water are shrinking and its quality is deteriorating.                This issue has a particular relevance for Central Asia, where water is the basis of socio-economic development.                  I would like to draw attention to the fact that about 60% of water used by the countries of Central Asia generates in the territory of Tajikistan.                 Rise of temperature to 2-3°C is projected to boost the process of glaciers melting, which ultimately will lead to decrease of river flow. In combination with reduced rainfall and increased water consumption it may deteriorate the situation in the region in the mid-term and long-term perspective.                  The history of Central Asia is aware of consequences that may occur if connivance in natural resource management takes place. Having predetermined an actual catastrophe of the Aral Sea, we should not allow the disappearance of glaciers which are the source of life in Central Asia. In this regard, we believe that there is an urgent need to establish the International Fund for Preservation of Glaciers, which would bring together countries of the region and the international community in this strategically important sector.                   Alongside with this, with the view of ensuring water security in Central Asia in the terms of demographic explosion and uncontrolled new land development, as well as careless and wasteful water consumption, Republic of Tajikistan appeals to the United Nations and its relevant institutions to conduct an integrated assessment of the impact on the environment by absolutely outdated and inefficient water consumption system of the region and huge amount of water-reservoirs of downstream countries. As namely it is irrational use of water resources by irrigated agriculture and construction of huge reservoirs a volume of which exceeds current level of the Aral Sea 1,5 times has led to the catastrophy of this formerly large Sea.                    However, our country is ready to make a contribution to improving the climate. Today, about 70% of electricity generated in Central Asian countries account for thermal power plants which annually emit millions tons of carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere.                  At the same time, Tajikistan has huge hydropower potential which is estimated at 527 billion kilowatt hours per year that at the given instant uses 5-6% only. This capacity exceeds the current needs of the countries of Central Asia three times, and its further development would not only allow to reduce emissions of billions of tons of carbon dioxide gases into the atmosphere, but also considerably save reserves of oil, gas and coal which are intensively used by some countries in the region for electricity generation.                    A role of reservoirs which are constructed under the hydropower stations is also important. Against the background of observed increase of water resources deficit in Central Asia, they play a crucial role in ensuring water security, as well as help to prevent such extreme hydrological phenomena as floods, mudslides and inundation.                    I would also like to note that Tajikistan could be considered as a model of the planet, because we have a small area where almost all climatic zones with a range of temperatures from +50 ? C to -60 ? C can be found. Such conditions are solid ground for systematic climate observations and conducting research in this important sector. According to the estimation of scientists, to studying only Fedchenko Glacier – which is one of the largest glaciers of the world, will enable to determine the reconstruction of climate over the past several thousand years.                  The results of these studies undoubtedly will play an important role in the development of the world science on climate.                  Distinguished delegates,                  Republic of Tajikistan, although possesses huge stocks of water resources, pays a special attention to solving water issues.                  The country has initiated two major UN General Assembly water resolutions — the declaration of the International Year of Freshwater (2003) and the International Decade for Action: “Water for Life” (2005 — 2015) and is actively pursuing water policy at regional and global arenas.                 In this context, this year, my country has once again initiated the resolution of the UN General Assembly on the midterm comprehensive review of the International Decade for Action "Water for Life — 2005-2015", a key objective of which is achieving the internationally agreed goals on water resources. According to the resolution adopted recently by consensus, it is proposed to hold an interactive high-level dialogue of the UN General Assembly to discuss the implementation of the International Decade on March 22, 2010 — on the World Water Day. This event aims to launch a broad discussion of progress made in implementing the objectives of the Decade and to prepare the necessary ground for the International High-Level Conference on the midterm comprehensive review of the implementation of the Decade, scheduled for June 2010 in Dushanbe, in the capital of Tajikistan. I take this opportunity to invite all heads of delegations and participants of today's meeting to participate in these events.              Ladies and gentlemen,               Tajikistan fully supports the terms of a new climate agreement, which includes restricting and reducing consumption of fossil (carbon) fuel, increased use of renewable sources of energy, reforestation and improvement of land management. Along with this, we believe that the year of comparison, as stated in the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) should be 1990.                 The transfer of technology, providing cost savings and rational spending of available natural resources is another vector of our efforts. Technology transfer also contributes to the achievement of development goals and objectives while reducing human influence on climate.                 Finally, in my opinion, financing is a key component of our overall effort to combat climate change. Without adequate funding of adaptation measures, efforts to reduce harmful emissions and transfer of technology to all our good intentions may be frustrated.                 Therefore, Tajikistan welcomes the new agreement provided for an initiative to increase financial and technical assistance to developing countries. Precisely by virtue of limited possibilities these countries most of all face with serious negative consequences of climate change and therefore reinforce their adaptative capacity is extremely important and needed.                   In conclusion, I once again wish to underline a willingness of Tajikistan to support the efforts of the international community in preventing adverse effects of climate change and to express my country's firm support for the new draft agreement on climate, the adoption of which is crucial for the future of mankind.                  Thank you for your attention!