UCA Participates in Global Mountain Dialogue for Sustainable Development

On 24 April 2025, UCA participated in the high-profile International Conference "Global Mountain Dialogue for Sustainable Development: Towards the Bishkek+25 Summit", held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. The conference was officially opened with a welcoming speech by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, and brought together delegates from over 50 countries across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Australia, alongside representatives from around 30 international organizations. Hosted by the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic in collaboration with international partners, this major event sought to strengthen global cooperation on climate resilience and sustainable development in mountain regions.

As a partner of the conference, UCA played a key role by leading Session 10, "Promoting Scientific Research on Mountain Development." The session gathered leading scientists and practitioners working on the frontlines of mountain research to address critical issues such as the use of earth observation technologies to assess environmental change, the impacts of climate change on Central Asia’s water towers, patterns of human mobility in highland communities, and the role of research and development in advancing hybrid green energy solutions for mountain regions. The session was moderated by UCA’s Rector, Professor Christopher Gerry, and featured contributions from distinguished speakers including Dr Florian Betz, Dr Deo Raj Gurung, Professor Asylbek Aidaraliev, and UCA colleagues Professor Eran Edirisinghe, Dr Arnaud Caiserman, and Dr Asel Murzakulova.

Speaking at the session, Professor Christopher Gerry highlighted UCA’s central role in advancing mountain-focused research and education, stating, “Mountains are central - not peripheral - to the sustainable development agenda. Here in Central Asia, they define our ecology, shape our societies, and sustain our economies. Yet these regions remain deeply vulnerable to environmental change, underinvestment, and insufficient representation in global research and policy platforms. At UCA, we are proud to play a leading role in producing science that is globally relevant, regionally grounded, and committed to improving the lives of mountain communities.”

UCA’s participation in the conference was conducted within the framework of its Sustainable Mountain Development Programme (SMD), which drives research, policy dialogue, and practical solutions for mountain regions. This contribution is especially timely as it aligns with the midpoint of Kyrgyzstan’s national initiative “Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions (2023–2027)”, reinforcing UCA’s commitment to advancing national and regional mountain agendas through science, education, and innovation.

Beyond leading Session 10,  researchers from the UCA’s Mountain Societies Research Institute (MSRI) contributed to other sessions. Dr Arnaud Caiserman and Dr Vitalii Zaginaev presented their work during the Session on Natural Disasters in Mountain Areas and Early Warning Systems, organised by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic, Dr. Sanjar Sadyrov presented his findings on the Impact of Climate Change on Glaciers and the Cryosphere Session, and Dr Maksim Kulikov contributed to the Session on Conservation of Mountain Ecosystems and Biodiversity.

During the conference’s concluding plenary session, Professor Gerry presented the outcomes of Session 10 and offered proposals for inclusion in the forthcoming Bishkek Declaration of the Second Global Mountain Summit, including recommendations for updates to the UN Resolution on Sustainable Mountain Development.

UCA’s strong presence, with nine scientists contributing across four sessions, demonstrated its role as a leading institution in mountain research and sustainable development in Central Asia.