Kyrgyzstan Puts Mountains on the Global Agenda at UN High-Level Forum

Kyrgyzstan convened a side event during the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, drawing global attention to the vital role of mountain regions in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Held under the theme “Promoting the Five Years of Action: Mountains as Key To Accelerating the 2030 Agenda,” the event showcased Kyrgyzstan’s leadership in promoting sustainable mountain development at the international level, The Caspian Post reports via Kyrgyz media.

Speaking at the session, Dinara Kemelova, Special Representative of the President of Kyrgyzstan, presented the country’s progress in implementing the UN Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions. She also outlined several key initiatives championed by President Sadyr Japarov, including the formation of a global coalition of mountain countries and a dedicated UN-Mountains coordination mechanism. Kemelova further shared the outcomes of the recent “Global Mountain Dialogue for Sustainable Development” conference hosted by Kyrgyzstan.

Aida Kasymalieva, Kyrgyzstan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, underscored the urgency of protecting fragile mountain ecosystems in the face of climate change. She called for enhanced international collaboration to ensure a resilient and sustainable future for mountain communities.

The event brought together representatives from mountain nations, UN bodies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), as well as officials from landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

In a statement, the Presidential Administration noted that the forum "reflects the growing international support for Kyrgyzstan’s mountain-focused initiatives within the UN system."