ADB launches initiative to promote food security amid climate change

• Lender launches “Glaciers to Farms” programme.
• Initiative to include risk assessments of glacial melt.
• It will also support communities in mountainous regions.

ISLAMABAD: As countries around the world continue to face worsening effects of climate change, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Sunday launched a new regional programme “Glaciers to Farms” to promote sustainable water use and food security in Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Pakistan.

The initiative will see the ADB, supported by the Green Climate Fund’s (GCF) Project Preparation Facility, carry out risk assessments of glacial melt in Azerbaijan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan — forming the scientific and technical basis for the programme, read the press release issued by the lender.

With temperatures in the region projected to rise by up to 6°C by the next century, the loss of glacial mass threatens the fragile balance of ecosystems, jeopardising water supply for agriculture and hydro-power and risking the livelihoods of more than 380 million people.

A declaration of support for preserving glaciers has been signed with ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa and GCF Chief Investment Officer Henry Gonzalez.

The signatories include COP29 President and Azerbaijan Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev; Kazakhstan Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nyssanbayev; Kyrgyz Republic Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision Meder Mashiev; Tajikistan Committee on Environmental Protection Chairman Bahodur Sheralizoda; and Uzbekistan Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change Aziz Abdukhakimov.

“As melting glaciers change waterflows, disrupt lives, and destroy ecosystems, we must act now,” said Asakawa.

“As Asia and the Pacific’s climate bank, we are pleased to be joined by key partners to launch this programme to drive international collaboration and deliver results where they matter most — on the ground, in communities at risk,” he added.

Glaciers to Farms envisages mobilising up to $3.5 billion from ADB, GCF, governments, development partners, and the private sector, subject to the participating institutions’ board approvals.

In addition to water and agriculture investments, the programme will support vulnerable communities threatened by glacial melt, particularly in fragile mountain regions.

“The GCF recognises the regional Glaciers to Farms programme as a vital initiative to enhance climate resilience and promote sustainable development,” said Gonzalez.

“Recognising the profound vulnerability of mountain communities and ecosystems, this programme is instrumental in safeguarding our precious water resources and empowering those most at risk.

“This programme embodies the essential collaboration and innovative strategies needed to address the severe challenges posed by climate change. Together, we can build a resilient and sustainable future for all — especially for the vulnerable populations who depend on our mountain landscapes,” he added.

The event was also attended by Minister of Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb and Georgia Minister for Economy and Sustainable Development Genadi Arveladze.

Significance

Glaciers are essential natural service providers, it said adding they store freshwater that melts gradually, feeding rivers that support demand for agriculture, hydropower, and drinking water across national borders.

In upstream areas, shrinking glaciers diminish water flow, impacting local agriculture and increasing water shortages. Downstream, increased glacial runoff can cause floods.

As glaciers continue to shrink, both upstream and downstream communities face greater water and food insecurity and more risk to critical infrastructure.

Glaciers to Farms is one of several ADB initiatives to help Asia adapt to melting glaciers. In the Hindu Kush Himalaya, ADB is establishing early warning systems and climate-resilient infrastructure.

In monsoonal South and Southeast Asia, the bank is enhancing resilience throughout entire river basins.

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2025 the International Year of Glacier Preservation, while Tajikistan will host the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation in Dushanbe next year.