Reflections on the ‘Drops of the Future’ workshop

Aug 30, 2024 - 2 min read

The Office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe recently held a seminar on the intersection of climate change and security in Central Asia. Over 60 participants from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan attended, along with representatives from regional and international organisations. The seminar focused on the vulnerabilities in the water sector and the challenges and opportunities in managing shared water resources.

Central Asian countries are highly prone to climate-related disruptions due to their arid, semi-arid and sub-arctic climates.[1] By the end of the century, temperatures in Central Asia are expected to rise by 2.5-6.5°C. This increase will heighten risks such as drought, water scarcity, extreme heat, heavy precipitation, and natural disasters like mudflows, floods and avalanches.[2]

The seminar highlighted the urgent need for co-ordinated regional efforts to mitigate these impacts, especially in mountainous and lowland areas. The key outcomes include:

1. Enhancing knowledge and building capacity

Context: the seminar aimed to enhance knowledge and build capacity in sustainable water management. It focused on understanding climate-related vulnerabilities and the current gaps in practices and legal frameworks.

Outcome: participants deepened their understanding of regional climate vulnerabilities and improved their skills in project management, data analysis and communication.

Impact: the knowledge and skills gained will support informed decision-making, strengthen advocacy for effective policies and facilitate collaborative efforts.

2. Strengthening networks and partnerships

Context: the seminar also aimed to strengthen networks and partnerships in sustainable water management. Discussions highlighted the importance of ongoing collaborations and trust-building across borders.

Outcome: participants discussed the need to forge new partnerships and the importance of continuous collaboration.

Impact: the seminar facilitated brainstorming for new collaborations and reinforced commitments to joint projects.

3. Spotlight on the role of youths/young people

The seminar spotlighted the role of young people in regional co-operation. Youth engagement was highlighted as crucial.
Young participants can bring innovative ideas and solutions to water management issues and advocate through social media and community mobilisation.
Youth participation in diplomacy and cross-border dialogues foster trust and mutual understanding among nations.

Central Asia will face many climate-related challenges in the coming decades. Transboundary co-operation, especially regarding shared water resources, is essential to address the negative impacts of climate change in the sector. The involvement of youths in these cross-border efforts is key to ensuring a stable and sustainable Central Asia.

[1] https://www.eurasian-research.org/publication/impacts-of-climate-change-in-central-asia/ [2] https://www.shareweb.ch/site/Climate-Change-and-Environment/Documents/NexusBrief-Cryosphere-ENG-Okt2019.pdf