The Third CAREC Climate Policy Dialogue Addressed Climate Inaction, Investment Gaps, and Regional Cooperation

On April 25, the CAREC Institute hosted the 3rd CAREC Climate Policy Dialogue webinar, focusing on practical implications of climate inaction, investment challenges, and opportunities in Central Asia. The event aimed to explore strategies for tailored policy recommendations to address government needs.

Dr. Kuat Akizhanov commenced the event with an opening statement underscoring the significant vulnerability of Central Asia’s economies to the enduring impacts of climate change. Highlighting the expected exacerbation of water scarcity, threats to agricultural productivity, and challenges in hydropower generation, Dr. Akizhanov underscored the urgent need for a coordinated approach across the water, agriculture, and energy sectors. He referenced the institute’s research reports on the implications of climate inaction and investment gaps in the region, setting the stage for a dialogue focused on addressing these pressing challenges through regional cooperation and data sharing.  

During the webinar, key findings of CAREC Institute’s recent reports – “Investment Gap Analysis of Central Asia’s Water, Agriculture, and Energy Sectors”  and “Climate Inaction Report “Implications of Climate Inaction across the Water-Agriculture-Energy Nexus and Potential Benefits of Improved Intersectoral and Regional Cooperation” — were presented, shedding light on the implications of climate inaction and the potential benefits of improved intersectoral and regional cooperation in addressing these challenges. Dr. Abdurasul Kayumov, the key author of these reports, highlighted the importance of promoting climate-smart agricultural practices, improving pasture management, and introducing agroforestry and soil conservation in Central Asia. He emphasized the significant potential for solar and wind resources in the region and the need to harness these opportunities to diversify green energy sources. Dr. Kayumov also stressed the importance of promoting energy conservation, building climate-resilient energy infrastructure, and establishing a regional climate change framework. He called for joint investments in transparent infrastructure and emphasized the crucial role of regional data sharing to efficiently react to climate change impacts. Dr. Kayumov’s presentation underscored the necessity of sustainable and mutual beneficial water use policies and highlighted the challenges posed by securitized water-related data in Central Asia.

The climate policy dialogue included a panel discussion with key partners, including Ms. Agnes Surry, Deputy Head of Capacity Building and Training and Senior Economist at the Asian Development Bank Institute, Dr. Iskandar Abdullaev, Visiting Professor at the Centre for International Development and Environmental Research at Justus Liebig University Giessen, and Dr. Roman Vakulchuk, Head of the Climate and Energy Research Group at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. The experts discussed the acceleration of climate-related investments in Central Asia, recognizing the region’s diversity with varying levels of carbon emissions and vulnerability to climate change. They highlighted the significance of sharing perspectives on addressing climate challenges and emphasized the need for high-level policy dialogues, capacity-building workshops, and data projections to raise awareness of climate exposure in Asia. Additionally, they mentioned organizing a workshop on corporate climate disclosure to promote regulatory frameworks aligned with international standards. The experts emphasized the importance of utilizing research and data for informed decision-making and sustainable actions in response to climate change in Central Asia. They also noted the increasing awareness of climate change among stakeholders as a positive development and stressed the role of organizations like ADB and CAREC Institute in engaging with local governments to advocate for climate change awareness and action. Regional collaboration, education, and information sharing were highlighted as crucial elements for driving sustainable actions and mitigating the impacts of climate change in Central Asia.