Climate Change and Environmental Stressors in Central Asia
Basic Description
Accelerating Climate Stress
Central Asia is warming faster than the global average
Glacier retreat is rapid, triggering both floods and long-term water scarcity
Cascading Effects Across Systems
Climate impacts are not isolated: water, food, and energy systems are interdependent
Transboundary impacts are becoming more frequent and intense
Expanding Environmental Degradation
Desertification, land degradation, and dust storms are worsening
Rural livelihoods and ecosystems are increasingly at risk
Cascading Risks
From Crisis to Capacity
Recurrent disasters demand long-term resilience strategies, not just emergency responses
Recurrent disasters
Emergency Responses
Long-term
resilience strategies
Risk Informed Pathways
Effective adaptation relies on data-driven planning and localized risk assessments
Long-term
resilience strategies
Localized Risk
Assessments
Technology as Enabler in Central Asia
AI & Machine Learning in Agriculture
Used for yield forecasting and drought monitoring
Risk Analytics for Hydropower
Risk-based dam management using remote sensi-historical hydrological data
Early Warning Systems
Regional flood alert system using rainfall thresholds and glacial lake monitoring
Scenario Modeling for Regional Climate Planning
Innovation Landscape
Climate Resilience Tools in Central Asia
Satalite-Based Crop Monitoring
Glacial Lake Monitoring Drones
Mobile Climate Apps for Farmers
Remote Sensing for Land Degradation
Decision Support Platforms (DSS)
Bridging the Adaptation Gap in Central Asia
Kazakhstan
Smart Irrigation for Water Efficiency
Helps conserve water in drought-prone zones
Kyrgyzstan
GLOF Early Warning and Community Alerts
Reduces risk for ~ 10,000 people in high mountain areas
Tajikistan
Solar-Powered Cold Storage for Farmers
Supports smallholders vulnerable to heatwave-linked post-harvest loss
Our Main Goal
To strengthen the capacity of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan to mitigate the complex and cascading impacts of slow-onset disaster risks on achievement of the SDGs
Target 1
Target 2
Target 3
Focus on Slow-Onset Glacial Hazards in Central Asia
North and Central Asia, like many regions in the Asia-Pacific, is facing intensified floods, droughts, and heatwaves due to climate change. These disasters pose risks to populations, economies and biodiversity.
The impact on glaciers is especially critical for water security in the region.
Cascading Impacts
Glacial melt impacts cascade downstream, affecting:
Local to Global Linkages
How local glacial hazards ripple across borders and sectors:
Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)
High-mountain Disasters
Cascading Impacts
Transboundary Water Governance
Energy and Agriculture Systems
Downstream Population Safety and Displacement