The emergence of new challenges and threats resulting from global climate change, deteriorating water-ecological conditions, and a growing deficit of water resources raises concerns in all Central Asian countries. In these circumstances, optimism is instilled by the clear understanding among regional countries that there is a need to unite efforts in developing and implementing joint coordinated actions to protect the environment, as stated by Nozim Khasanov, the head of the International Institute of Central Asia in Tashkent. This information is reported in an article on Avesta.
Climate change affects every corner of the Earth today, and its consequences inflict significant economic damage on states, hindering the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and becoming serious challenges for humanity.
The leader of our country has raised this issue from a high tribune multiple times. The President of Uzbekistan, addressing all countries, major international organizations, and civil society institutions, calls for consolidating efforts in combating climate change and mitigating its consequences, financing climate strategies, and transitioning to "green" energy.
Central Asian countries, like many other regions, face environmental problems. Uzbekistan, in turn, demonstrates commitment to addressing them. A robust legal framework has been established, extensive programs promoting the "green" agenda are being implemented, and practical measures are taken to adapt key sectors of the economy to climate change and achieve carbon neutrality. New renewable energy facilities and "green" technologies are being introduced nationwide. At the World Summit on Climate Change Actions during the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) held in early December 2023, Uzbekistan presented a series of important initiatives to enhance the fight against climate change on various levels.
Recently, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution proposed by Uzbekistan in collaboration with several countries titled "Central Asia in the Face of Environmental Challenges: Strengthening Regional Solidarity for Sustainable Development and Prosperity." The document emphasizes the importance of enhancing regional cooperation to address environmental issues, contributing to the socio-economic development of the states. The resolution underscores the crucial role of innovative technologies and advanced practices in combating desertification, drought, sand, and dust storms in Central Asia.
The high-level dialogue developing successfully across Central Asia provides a significant impetus to negotiation processes in all directions, including in the water management sector. Annual consultative meetings of the heads of Central Asian states play an important role, laying a solid foundation for the constructive resolution of many regional-scale issues. One such event was the launch of the process to improve the organizational structure and contractual-legal framework of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS).
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in his speech at the regular meeting of the Council of Heads of States - founders of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea on September 15, 2023, in Dushanbe, paid special attention to the issue of water scarcity in Central Asia. He highlighted the acute and irreversible nature of the problem, which will only worsen further. Consequently, the importance of further strengthening trust, good neighborliness, and partnership, as well as increasing practical cooperation between the region's states, was emphasized.
In Central Asian countries, there are national approaches to building water policies, but in the current circumstances, "water diplomacy" aimed at a multilateral format of mutually beneficial cooperation becomes particularly significant. In this regard, there have been practical results. Let's delve into the most significant ones.
Thanks to the activation of bilateral dialogue in 2016, a joint Uzbek-Kazakh working group was established to develop proposals for deepening cooperation in water relations. In July 2020, a "roadmap" on cooperation in this direction was signed between the two countries, providing an additional impetus to bilateral interaction.
Active contacts are being established with Kyrgyzstan, and it is encouraging that the country is currently showing readiness for negotiations within the IFAS framework.
One significant event in the development of multilateral water and energy cooperation among the region's countries was the signing of a trilateral "roadmap" in January 2023 between Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan for the joint construction of the Kambarata-1 HPP. The three countries have also begun jointly addressing the issue of additional water releases from the Toktogul Reservoir during the summer.
An example of the revitalization of partnership relations between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan in this crucial sphere was the signing of an agreement on joint water resource management for the Andijan (Kemir-Abad) reservoir in November 2022. Uzbekistan is also engaged in dialogue on various aspects of water and energy issues with Tajikistan. Since March 2018, the two countries have had a working group for the comprehensive use of transboundary river water resources. The first major project of Uzbek-Tajik energy cooperation, agreed upon in June 2022, is the construction of the 140 MW Yavan HPP, costing $282 million, which will generate 700-800 million kWh of electricity. The construction of an HPP on the Fandarya River with a capacity of 135 MW is also planned.
Agreements have been reached among Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan on the operating mode of the Bagri Tojik reservoir (Kayrakkum) during the growing season, enabling the necessary water supply in the middle course of the Syr Darya River.
Mutually beneficial transboundary water cooperation is also successfully developing with Turkmenistan. In May 2021, a bilateral agreement on a joint Uzbek-Turkmen commission on water management issues was signed in Ashgabat. Turkmenistan, in turn, provides organizational support for the operation of Uzbekistan's water management facilities located on its territory, such as the Karshi Main Canal, Amu-Bukhara Irrigation Canal, and Tuyamuyun Hydroelectric Power Plant.
Today, regional countries not only address urgent agenda items but also actively exchange experiences in using modern water-saving technologies, training and retraining personnel. Notably, in the atmosphere of mutual trust and support, Central Asian states compromise and form unified approaches to key transboundary water management issues. Alongside the improvement of interstate relations, "water diplomacy" is used by the region's countries as an essential and effective tool aimed at building a positive image on regional and international platforms. This allows for the promotion of joint initiatives to strengthen practical actions, obtain assistance and support from the international community to address accumulated water management problems.
On major international platforms, experts have voiced predictions that the water resource burden in some areas of Central Asia will triple by 2040. The economic damage over time may reach 11 percent of the regional gross domestic product. Already, according to the United Nations, the region's states lose up to two billion dollars annually due to the deficit and inefficient use of water resources. In these conditions, the key to the sustainable development of each Central Asian country can be close cooperation aimed at joint practical interaction.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
January 26, 2024