CENTRAL ASIA NEXUS DIALOGUE: FOSTERING WATER, ENERGY AND FOOD SECURITY
Central Asia, a vast region stretching from the Caspian Sea in the west to China in the east, consists of the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Water presents one of the greatest challenges for Central Asia. As its population grows so does the need to create more jobs and grow more food, but water sources are limited and already the Aral Sea Basin is overstretched.
IUCN is partnering with the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) in an EU-funded Central Asia Nexus Dialogue project which supports the development of capacity and investment to strengthen water, energy and food security in Central Asia.
"There is a growing sense of alarm throughout Central Asia where stability depends on the region's scarcest and most precious commodity: water. From tiny irrigation canals to the powerful Soviet-era hydroelectric plants, water is the source of misery and celebration in a poor region already overflowing with political and ethnic tension"
Understanding the Nexus
The Nexus highlights the interdependence between water, energy and food security and the use of natural resources – water, soil and land – that underpin that security.
Population growth, socio-economic development, climate change as well as changing consumption patterns in Central Asia contribute to increased demand for water, energy and food. To achieve security in all three sectors, it is important to understand their interdependence and the trade-offs necessary to meet the needs of the diverse users.
Applying the 'nexus' allows for mutually beneficial responses that are based on an understanding of synergies between water, energy and agricultural policies. It also provides an informed and transparent framework for determining trade-offs and feedback loops that maintain the integrity and sustainability of ecosystems.
The Central Asia Nexus project facilitates multisectoral dialogues and enhances cooperation among countries. By supporting innovation in planning, financing and implementation of multisectoral projects, the project aims to increase social and environmental resilience as well as complement socio-economic development.
"Pollution of the environment, climate change, water scarcity, intensification of desertification processes, increasing drought... All these threaten the stable and sustainable development of our region" Nodir Otazhonov, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan
The ultimate goal of the Central Asia Nexus Dialogue project is to prepare the ground for investments within the EU Nexus Dialogues Programme. To achieve this, the project supports the development of the regional investment programme "Aral Sea Basin Programme" (ASBP).
According to the World Bank, 33.7% of
the Central Asia population lived in
absolute poverty in 2010
Water, Energy, Food Security in Central Asia
Major rivers of Central Asia include the Amu Darya, the Syr Darya, Irtysh, the Hari River and the Murghab River. In addition the Aral Sea, Lake Balkhash and Caspian Sea are major sources of endorheic (no outflow) water bodies.
In all of these water sources, levels have shrunk significantly in recent decades due to water diversions for irrigation and industrial purposes.
As in many international basins, the core of the water management challenge in Central Asia is a conflict of interest between upstream and downstream countries. Upstream Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have abundant water resources of which they want to release more during winter so as to fulfil the countries' energy needs through hydropower generation. Downstream Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, by contrast, have far less internal renewable water resources and want the water from transboundary rivers to be released primarily in summer in order to meet their irrigation needs and avoid uncontrolled winter flooding.
What differentiates the transboundary basins in Central Asia from most other contested international basins is the presence of an extensive transboundary water infrastructure, a legacy of the region's history as republics of the Soviet Union.
Since 1991 energy prices have started to increase towards global levels. As a consequence, upstream states wish to increase hydropower production, helping them to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, water releases from their reservoirs are increasingly driven by upstream winter electricity needs rather than downstream summer irrigation needs. This shift in water release patterns has negatively affected downstream countries through the reduced availability of water for irrigation and, at times uncontrolled winter flooding
Currently a window of opportunity exists as countries witness some success in establishing constructive dialogues on these issues. If countries succeed in focusing on pragmatic mutual benefits that reach beyond water allocation, this can form the basis for finding new, sustainable solutions.
"The Central Asian region remains dramatically underrepresented on a global environmental scale. IUCN's engagement in platforms, such as CAIEF, not only provides opportunities for knowledge sharing, but also helps increase Central Asia’s representation. Throughout CAIEF we encourage greater involvement of professionals from the region in IUCN Commissions" Aleksey Zavarzin, IUCN CEC Regional Vice-Chair
Formerly one of the four largest lakes in the world, the Aral Sea has shrunk to 10% of its original size after the rivers that fed it were diverted by Soviet irrigation projects. It has been called one of the planet's worst environmental disasters
Solutions and Way Forward
The capital of Tajikistan hosts a forum dedicated to the UN Decade of Action "Water for sustainable development in 2018-2028".
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Rethinking water in Central Asia: The costs of inaction and benefits of water cooperation
Triggering cooperation across the food-water-energy nexus in Central Asia
The Water-Energy-Food Security Resource Platform
Photos: Shutterstock and Pixabay • Icons: The Noun Project • Twitter: @IUCN_Water and @recca_carec • Hashtags: #CAREC #NexusCentralAsia • Edited by Claire Warmenbol, IUCN Water Programme Communications
