Climate adaptation and mitigation plan for climate change in Uzbekistan

Climate change has reduced the glaciers in Central Asia by 30 per cent in the past 50-60 years. This glacial decline is projected to result in water and lead to the region’s GDP drop of 11 per cent.

Uzbekistan is one of the countries in Central Asia affected by water shortage; the problem will be exacerbated by climate change and will increase drought duration.

The country’s total water deficit reached more than 3 billion cubic meters, and it will increase to 7 billion cubic meters by 2030 and 15 billion by 2050. 

The availability of water per capita has also declined over the past 15 years from 3048 to 1589 cubic meters, while the country’s population is increasing at the rate of 650-700 thousand a year.

It is estimated that Uzbekistan’s population will reach 39 million by 2030. This population increase will also raise water demands by 18-20%.

Surrounding Uzbekistan’s borders are Kazakhstan to its north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Turkmenistan to the south.  Desert accounts for 78% of the country’s total area, making it more susceptible to droughts and water scarcity.

According to the Eureporter, the country took systemic measures to cope with future water demands and mitigate its consequences. To do this, the government has adopted several conceptual documents in the last four years:

• The concept of environmental protection till 2030
• The Strategy for the transition of the republic to a “green” economy for the period 2019-2030
• The Strategy for the management of solid household waste for the period 2019-2028
• The Concept of development of the water sector of Uzbekistan for 2020-2030
• The Concept of providing Uzbekistan with electric energy for 2020-2030
• The concept of development of the hydrometeorological service of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2020-2025
• The Strategy of water resources management and development of the irrigation sector in the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2021-2023.

The primary purpose for these documents is to mitigate and adapt to climate change effects as stated in these documents, which includes reducing emissions and pollutions, rational use of water resources, the introduction of environmentally friendly technologies, boosting renewable energy sources, increase collection and removal of waste services to the population, improving energy efficiency, and reduce the use of hydrocarbons.

The country also implemented institutional reforms and established offices to improve the public administration of its environmental protection and management.

Measures to combat water resource depletion include introducing water-saving technologies and drip irrigation as part of the Water Resources Management Strategy for 2021-2023.

The country is also creating protective green spaces on the drained bottom of the sea and increasing areas coved by forests and shrubs to minimise the drying up of the Aral Sea, which has seen continuous shrinkage over the years. It is also taking active steps to strengthen international cooperation with neighbouring Central Asian countries to save the Aral Sea.