Tajikistan, Japan Team Up on Glacier Monitoring and Climate Research at COP30

Tajikistan and Japan have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding on glacier monitoring, greenhouse gas emissions, and air quality - a major step forward for climate science cooperation announced on the sidelines of COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

The deal, signed between Tajikistan’s Hydromet Agency and Japan’s ArkEdge Space Inc., will expand remote sensing of glaciers, strengthen climate-monitoring tools, and boost Tajikistan’s scientific research capacity, The Caspian Post informs via Tajik media.

Hydromet Director Abdullo Qurbonzoda also met with Japan’s Vice Minister for Global Environmental Affairs Kentaro Doi, with both sides expressing interest in joint scientific publications, international conference participation, and securing new global funding opportunities.

Officials say the agreement underscores Tajikistan’s drive to adopt modern environmental monitoring technologies and deepen global partnerships - essential for a country that holds Central Asia’s largest glacier reserves.

COP30 also featured a thematic event on climate finance for agriculture, where Tajikistan’s representative joined a panel organized by the Green Climate Fund and Rwanda. The delegation highlighted the country’s efforts to attract climate funding and its long-term plans to help the agricultural sector adapt to increasing climate pressures.