Strengthening Climate Resilience in Water, Agriculture, and Energy: Workshop in Uzbekistan
From November 25 to 27, the CAREC Institute, supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), hosted a workshop in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, focused on advancing climate resilience in Uzbekistan’s water, agriculture, and energy sectors. The event aimed to address the challenges posed by climate change and explore innovative financing options to strengthen resilience in these key sectors, which are crucial to the country’s economy. Stakeholders discussed the current status of these sectors, identified investment gaps, and explored mechanisms to encourage private sector involvement in Uzbekistan’s climate adaptation strategies.
The workshop featured keynote addresses, panel discussions, and interactive sessions over three days, with each day dedicated to one of the three sectors. Ms. Kanokpan Lao-Araya, ADB’s Country Director in Uzbekistan, emphasized the bank’s commitment to supporting the country’s sustainable development efforts. Mr. Vadim Sokolov, Director of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), stressed the need for collaboration to tackle the environmental crisis in the Aral Sea region.
Dr. Asif Razzaq, Senior Research Specialist at CAREC Institute, discussed the impacts of climate change on agriculture, water, and energy in Uzbekistan, setting the stage for subsequent discussions on financing and resilience strategies. His presentation provided key context for Dr. Georg Petersen, General Manager of HYDROC GmbH, to explore the financing gaps in Uzbekistan’s water sector. The session then focused on developing a comprehensive water financing action plan, identifying opportunities for regional cooperation, and reviewing case studies of successful water financing initiatives. Dr. Yuliy Yusupov, Scientific Supervisor at the Centre for Economic Development in Uzbekistan, further shared valuable insights on the challenges and potential solutions related to financing the water sector in Uzbekistan.
On the second day, the workshop focused on agriculture, with Dr. Abdurasul Kayumov leading discussions on climate-resilient agricultural financing and investment opportunities. Dr. Shakhboz Akhmedov presented on national policies supporting sustainable agriculture. The final day addressed energy sector challenges, with Dr. Asif Razzaq outlining strategies to attract investment in Uzbekistan’s energy sector. Dr. Umidbek Narzullaev presented proposed reforms to enhance energy sustainability, underscoring the need for a strategic framework that balances foreign investment with environmental sustainability.
The last day of workshop featured a panel discussion on “Enhancing Climate Resilience: Navigating the Water, Agriculture, and Energy Nexus in Uzbekistan” moderated by Ms. Rose Shao, Capacity Building Specialist at the CAREC Institute, ensuring a focused and productive exchange among the international experts and national policymakers. The workshop concluded with Ms. Shao delivering closing remarks in which she highlighted the key outcomes of the workshop, emphasizing the concrete steps taken towards enhancing climate resilience in Uzbekistan and the tangible results achieved through collaborative efforts.
Throughout the event, participants from government, international organizations, and the private sector collaborated to identify practical solutions and foster partnerships for boosting investment and innovation. The workshop concluded with a commitment to advancing climate resilience and sustainable development in Uzbekistan, with participants agreeing to continue their collective efforts to address the country’s climate-related challenges.