Central Asia to face chronic water scarcity by 2028

Stanislav Pritchin, head of the Central Asia Department at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said during a roundtable discussion on "Climate Change and Water Use Issues in Central Asia" that Central Asia may enter a chronic stage of water scarcity by 2028.

According to him, this is one of the most pressing and urgent topics on the agenda.

"The sector is in a rather difficult situation. This is primarily due to climate change. Global warming also affects the reserves of glaciers, which are the main source of fresh water in Central Asia. Accordingly, in the long term, the reduction in reserves will impact river flow," said Pritchin.

He emphasized that population growth also influences the situation. The region is developing rapidly, and the demographic situation is dynamic.

"Overall, the region's population is approaching 80 million. Therefore, the consumption of fresh water by the population alone is already an additional pressure factor on the water economy, which is shrinking. At the same time, we are witnessing outdated infrastructure. According to various calculations, up to 50% of irrigation water is lost due to inefficient use before it even reaches the fields," Pritchin added.

Another factor is the uncoordinated regional governance practices.

"There is no serious mechanism or interstate institution with sufficient authority. Yes, regional, bilateral, and trilateral negotiations on water distribution are being conducted, but in general, the situation related to water policy is complicated. There are no institutions that deal not only with distribution but also with developing a comprehensive strategy. We are seeing the first attempts in this direction – for example, the project to implement the Kambarata hydropower plant jointly by three countries. This is a positive step, but it is not enough," Pritchin said.