A call for climate action in Central Asia: Gearing up for 2nd CA Climate Knowledge Forum

A scientific debate about the reality of climate change is in the past. Countries of Central Asia which rank among the most climate change vulnerable in Europe and Central Asia are facing this challenge today. The fight against this common enemy, which knows no national boundaries, calls for collaboration to enhance the region's resilience, Saroj Kumar Jha, World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia said. Already Vulnerable Central Asia is already experiencing the impacts of a changing climate, with warmer temperatures; glacier melt; increased variability in water resources; and frequent and costly weather-related hazards. In the recent past, there has been a marked increase in drought conditions over much of Central Asia. This has resulted in serious implications for food security and rural livelihoods. The 2000 drought caused losses to crop and livestock estimated at 4.8 percent and 0.8 percent of GDP in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan alone. More frequent episodes of droughts in Kazakhstan, most recently in 2008, 2010 and 2012, are causing sharp fluctuations in wheat production, which heighten concerns about ensuring food security in the region. River flooding has also become prevalent in the last two decades. Significant damages occurred during the 2005 floods of the Amu Daria and Syr Daria, affecting Tajikistan and southern Kyrgyz Republic, as well as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. There are estimates that economic losses from weather-related disasters vary from 0.4 to 1.3 percent of GDP per annum for Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyz Republic. So next week, when the Second Central Asia Climate Knowledge Forum is convened in Almaty on May 13-15, representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and their international partners will continue to share the latest international knowledge and studies on climate change. The discussion will also focus on the proposed regional program for climate resilience. In less than one year, collaboration for climate resilience has gained significant momentum in Central Asia. The proposed multi-year program, designed in partnership with Central Asia countries and development partners, focuses on building institutions for investment preparation and implementation across various sectors. Discussions at the Forum will build on the enthusiasm and energy behind the proposed regional program and will translate into concrete proposals detailing who does what, how and when, based on the global as well as Central Asia regional knowledge, generated within the last decade through various activities. Details also at