21.12.2022 - Integration of scientific knowledge on water resources into policy dialogue on climate change adaptation in Central Asia

Giessen, December 21, 2022.

The fifth Tashkent Water Security Lecture (TWSL) was held on 14^th December in Potsdam, Germany. TWSL was launched in the frame of the Green Central Asia Program as a platform to discuss climate change-related problems among different actors (researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders). Participants from research institutions and universities from Germany and Central Asia presented their research projects and findings on climate change and water security at the German Research Centre for Geosciences. Moreover, representatives of the embassies of five Central Asian countries participated in the panel discussion.

One of the core partners of the SDGnexus Network in Central Asia, the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers (TIIAME) National Research University, is also a part of the organizing team of the conference. Prof. Abdulkhakim Salokhiddinov, a Vice-Rector for International Cooperation and Principal Investigator of the SDGnexus Network project at TIIAME, presented projects and activities in the field of climate change and adaptation at TIIAME. Highlights of his presentation are:

• water resources in large rivers of Central Asia have temporarily increased because of glacier degradation, while water availability of small river basins has noticeably worsened (Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya) and changed from snow-fed to rain-fed;
• climate change impacts agriculture in Uzbekistan in terms of increasing water shortage, increasing the number of agricultural pests and diseases, reduction in crop yield and quality, unstable and inclement weather, and increasing production costs;
• capacity building for climate-resilient agriculture is suggested as one of the climate change adaptation measures.

Among our collaborating partners in Central Asia is the GIZ Office in Tashkent. Dr. Caroline Milow, Program Manager, discussed the development of Germany’s engagement in supporting regional cooperation in Central Asia and presented the German Foreign Office’s Initiative ‘Green Central Asia.’ The program aims to improve access to information and risk analyses to enable participating countries to assess climate change's impact more accurately, take preventive measures, and develop a regional action plan for a joint political dialogue on climate, environment, and security.  

Dr. Aliya Assubayeva, a Research Associate at University Giessen, introduced the SDGnexus Network project and presented research findings on water security assessment in Central Asia. The bibliometric review revealed that within the last decade, water security-related studies had given much importance to technical and infrastructural means to protect human livelihoods against global environmental changes and to foster economic growth. In contrast, water governance and management are largely overlooked (Xenarios et al., 2020). The Delphi survey suggests that the economic dimension of water security in Central Asia is the ultimate priority for nearly all water professionals. In contrast, the national priorities for each Central Asian country are not identical (Assubayeva et al., 2022). Dr. Assubayeva highlighted the importance of connecting conceptual frameworks and policy perspectives for better water policy in Central Asia.

The conference was followed by a panel discussion of representatives of embassies of five Central Asian countries. All representatives highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.

The program of the conference is available here.

Contact

Dr. Aliya.Assubayeva@zeu.uni-giessen.de

Center for International Development and Environmental Research (ZEU), Justus Liebig University Giessen

Senckenbergstraße 3

D-35390 Gießen

+49 641 99 12714