Promoting transboundary climate risk management in Central Asia

Context

Latest reports estimate that mountain glaciers in Central Asia will continue to shrink due to climate change. If global warming continues to exceed two degrees Celsius every year, East and West Central Asia will be even drier by the middle of the 21st century. This will damage the ecosystem’s integrity in general and problems with water supply, energy production, agricultural and forestry production will occur. Therefore, governments of neighbouring countries need to work together to address shared risks and coordinate their responses.

Objective

Transboundary climate and disaster risk management in Central Asia is improved.

Approach

The project team provides expertise to water basin organisations and stakeholders from selected water basin councils, national emergency and hydrometeorological institutions and to the regional disaster management centre. Through this the project aims to enhance their capacity in tackling transboundary water-related climate risks and improving preparedness to disasters.

• Within local communities, the project conducts climate-risk assessments at selected small interstate watersheds in Central Asian countries. These are carried out using an inclusive and participatory approach.
• In the Central Asian countries, the project works with relevant government ministries and agencies responsible for water resources management, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. The focus is on enabling these entities to develop and implement robust policies and plans related to water management and disaster risk reduction that are resilient to climate impacts.
• In the region, it facilitates knowledge exchange and coordination among the participating countries. Support is provided in the formulation of regional policies and strategies to promote climate-resilient water resources management and disaster risk reduction.