Central Asia enter severe water shortage in three years

Central Asia is expected to enter a chronic phase of water shortage by 2028, according to Stanislav Pritchin, head of the Central Asia sector at the Russian Academy of Sciences' IMEMO. He made this statement during an online roundtable discussion on "Climate Change and Water Resource Issues in Central Asia" held on February 18.

Pritchin emphasized that this is one of the most urgent and complex issues on the regional agenda.

“The situation in the water sector has significantly deteriorated due to multiple factors. The primary reason is climate change. Global warming is affecting glacier reserves, which serve as the main source of fresh drinking water in Central Asia. The decline of glaciers will also impact river flows in the long term,” he stated.

Another contributing factor is rapid population growth in the region. Uzbekistan leads in demographic expansion, with its population increasing from 22 million in 1991 to 37.5 million by 2025.

“Overall, the population of Central Asia is approaching 80 million. The increasing demand for drinking water alone is adding significant pressure to already dwindling resources. Moreover, the region's water infrastructure is outdated,” Pritchin added.

Additionally, inefficient water usage is exacerbating the crisis. Estimates suggest that up to 50% of irrigation water is lost before reaching fields due to poor resource management.

Regional management challenges also contribute to the issue.

“There is no international institution with broad authority to manage water resources in the region. While bilateral and trilateral negotiations take place, the overall system for addressing water issues remains ineffective. Apart from water distribution agreements, no institution is developing a comprehensive regional strategy. However, there are some positive developments—such as the agreement between three countries to jointly implement the ‘Qambar-Ota’ project—but these efforts are insufficient,” Pritchin noted.

Earlier, during his speech at the III People's Congress in Bishkek, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov called on citizens to use water resources rationally, stressing that “every liter of water saved in Kyrgyzstan helps neighboring countries.” He also highlighted that water shortages are worsening globally due to the deteriorating ecological situation.