Bridging the Gap: Climate Vulnerability and Water Governance in Central Asia

Recent extreme weather events in Central Asia highlight the region's growing vulnerability to climate change. North Kazakhstan experienced severe floods, worsened by a lack of timely transboundary water data exchange.[1] Record heatwaves in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan caused droughts and water shortages.[2] Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan faced heavy rainfall and rapid snowmelt, leading to infrastructure and agricultural damage.[3] The drying of the Aral Sea triggered sand and dust storms, harming public health and air quality.[4] While no one can escape the impacts of climate change, certain demographic groups are affected disproportionately.

The women and youth in Central Asia are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis.[5]Central Asia has one of the world's youngest populations, with about half under 30.[6] These groups face systemic barriers in water governance and climate-related decision-making.[7][8] In addition, the water sector in Central Asia is entrenched in gender biases, which hinder women’s participation in water governance and climate-related decision-making.[9]

While policymakers emphasise the importance of addressing water scarcity and climate-related water stress, their actions often fail to bridge the gap between rhetoric and reality. Policymakers often fail to implement water-saving technologies, shifting the burden on to end-users and urging them to "use less water", further discouraging entrepreneurs from expanding water-intensive businesses. Governments are also ignoring social vulnerabilities, especially in rural areas. Some states have planned to increase the areas of cultivated land, overlooking social vulnerabilities, especially in rural areas where informal wage labour is prevalent, and women depend on contracts that offer no pension provision for income stability. Increasing climate change related extreme events in the region underscores the need for a more cohesive regional approach to climate adaptation, water governance, data sharing and disaster preparedness.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and BluePeace Central Asia have started workshops to empower youth and women. The "Drops of the Future" youth workshop series aims to build the capacity of young professionals, especially women, in the water, energy and food sectors. These workshops provide networking opportunities and aim to align with regional and global decision-making processes. However, regional governments have yet to turn these discussions into actionable policies.

Effective climate adaptation and water security in Central Asia require a shift in policy design and implementation. This shift must include the youth and women as active contributors. The structural exclusion of women and bias towards technical expertise must be addressed. Breaking down barriers preventing women and youth from participating in governance is crucial. Policies must be revisited and revised, and legislation against gender-based violence enforced, to create a safer, more equitable environment.

[1] https://reliefweb.int/disaster/fl-2024-000039-kaz [2]https://www.preventionweb.net/news/central-asian-drought-highlights-water-vulnerability [3] https://reliefweb.int/report/tajikistan/tajikistan-kyrgyzstan-landslides-and-floods-media-reliefweb-noaa-central-asia-echo-daily-flash-08-may-2024 [4] https://www.unccd.int/news-stories/press-releases/sand-and-dust-storm-frequency-increasing-many-world-regions-un-warns [5] https://eca.unwomen.org/en/stories/press-release/2022/02/central-asian-governments-discuss-the-integration-of-gender-equality-into-climate-change-policies [6] https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/25-06-2024-statement---demographics-and-economics-provide-central-asia-with-a-unique-opportunity-to-accelerate-development-and-improve-health [7] https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-05/UNDP-Elevating-Meaningful-Youth-Engagement-for-Climate-Action-2.pdf [8] https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/5/762 [9] https://siwi.org/women-water-management-central-asia-afghanistan/