At UNGA 80, The Kyrgyz Republic’s President, H.E. Sadyr Japarov, issued a powerful call to the international community: to support and endorse the Declaration of COP-29 on Climate, Mountains, and Glaciers as a decisive step in mobilizing ambitious initiatives to protect the mountain ecosystems across the globe.

Key priorities cited in the declaration include deepening scientific understanding of climate change impacts on mountain ecosystems, integrating indigenous knowledge and practices into sustainable conservation efforts, and advocating for global policy implementation to preserve the ecological balance of mountain regions.

The Declaration acknowledges that even the stillness and heights of mountains are not immune to the impacts of climate change. The drastic shifts in temperature are altering the biodiverse ecosystems of mountain ranges, posing significant challenges to the lowland regions they sustain. 

Kyrgyzstan stands as a living witness to environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem imbalance driven by frequent glacier melts, intensifying climate disasters, and diminishing glacial flows. Its mountain ecosystem, which also boasts 2% of the planet’s known flora and 3% of its known fauna, is under pressure which threatens its crucial function in sustaining communities with clean water, food, fertile soils, and natural protection against disasters.

Kyrgyzstan recognizes that these challenges transcend its borders since neighboring countries with similar geographic and climatic conditions confront similar urgent climate threats. This understanding has driven the country to scale its efforts at the regional and global space, addressing the shared challenges and opportunities on mountain ecosystems.

Demonstrating global leadership in mountain sustainability, Kyrgyzstan has been a steadfast advocate for sustainable development in mountain regions. In 2022, the country proposed the Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions (2023–2027), which was subsequently adopted by the United Nations General Assembly through a formal resolution. At COP29, Kyrgyzstan stood among the leading nations championing mountain ecosystem conservation through the landmark Declaration on Climate, Mountains, and Glacier. The government also ensures that policy infrastructure and climate-smart investment on its mountains align with the global frameworks of the Sustainable Development Goals, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the Paris Agreement. These initiatives underscore Kyrgyzstan’s role as a leading example within the CVF-V20, demonstrating its commitment to climate resilience and sustainable development.