ADB Launches “Glaciers to Farms” Program to Address Glacial Melt Crisis
- Business
- November 17, 2024
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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a new regional program aimed at tackling the devastating impacts of glacial melt in Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Pakistan. Dubbed “Glaciers to Farms,” the initiative will focus on sustainable water use and enhancing food security, particularly in the face of accelerating climate change that threatens the region’s delicate ecosystem.
The launch event, supported by the Green Climate Fund’s (GCF) Project Preparation Facility, was attended by key ministers from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. These nations are set to undergo detailed risk assessments on the impact of glacial melt, which is rapidly altering water flows vital for agriculture, hydropower, and drinking water for over 380 million people.
The project comes as climate projections indicate temperatures in the region could rise by as much as 6°C by the year 2100. The resulting loss of glacial mass is expected to severely disrupt water availability. In upstream areas, this could lead to water shortages for local agriculture, while downstream, increased runoff may result in flooding.
ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa stressed the urgency of the initiative, stating, “As melting glaciers change waterflows, disrupt lives, and destroy ecosystems, we must act now to mitigate the crisis.”
The program is set to raise up to $3.5 billion in investments from ADB, GCF, and other partners to support sustainable water management and food security efforts. It will particularly focus on aiding mountain communities most vulnerable to the changing climate.
The Glaciers to Farms program is part of a broader effort by the ADB to help the region adapt to climate change. This includes initiatives such as early warning systems and climate-resilient infrastructure development in the Hindu Kush Himalayas.
The UN has declared 2025 as the International Year of Glacier Preservation, and an international conference on the subject will be held in Tajikistan next year.
