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The faculty members and master’s students of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Казахский национальный университет имени аль-Фараби took part in the premiere screening of the documentary film “Alatau: Following the Disappearing Glaciers.” The film focuses on the problem of accelerated glacier retreat in the Ile Alatau and its implications for regional water resources.

The event was organized by the public association “Almaty Nomad Travelers Club,” the Kazakh Society for Nature Protection, and the UN Academic Regional Information Center at 91��ý KazNU, with the support of the United Nations Department of Global Communications Office in Almaty and the youth movement UN Discussion Club.

The documentary presents an in-depth journalistic investigation into one of the most pressing environmental challenges in Central Asia – the rapid reduction of glaciers in the Zailiysky Alatau, which serve as a crucial source of freshwater for the region. According to the authors, the region has lost approximately 44% of its glaciers over the past decades, creating significant risks for water and food security, sustainable development, and social stability.

The film was produced by Kazakh and Kyrgyz journalists as part of the joint project “Alatau: Following the Disappearing Glaciers.” The project was implemented with financial support from the European Union within the framework of the CARAVAN project – “Strengthening Audience Resilience Through Reliable Stories,” implemented by the international organization Internews.

Following the premiere, an expert discussion was held with the participation of the film’s creators, glaciologists, environmental scientists, representatives of international organizations and UN agencies including UNDP, UNEP, and UNESCO, as well as representatives of relevant government bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The discussion addressed the impacts of climate change on mountain ecosystems, glacier retreat, and the associated risks for water resources in Central Asia.

The participation of faculty members and master’s students of KazNU’s Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences contributed to expanding the scientific dialogue and highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary research in the fields of climate change, glaciology, and water resource management.

Participation of university representatives in this event contributes to strengthening scientific dialogue between the academic community, international organizations, and civil society institutions, and aligns with the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 “Clean Water and Sanitation,” SDG 13 “Climate Action,” SDG 11 “Sustainable Cities and Communities,” and SDG 17 “Partnerships for the Goals.”