In Bishkek, there is a proposal to establish an international Central Asian water-energy consortium to develop principles of joint water use among the countries in the region. Additionally, there are discussions about creating a separate Ministry of Water Resources within the structure of the Kyrgyz Republic government.
This information comes from the resolution of the international conference "Water Resource Deficit in Central Asia: Ways to Solve Water Issues at the Regional and International Levels," which took place recently in the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
Furthermore, experts and researchers believe that it is necessary to review the norms and schemes of transboundary water sharing and develop new rules and norms for water use among the countries in Central Asia.
The rationale behind the resolution highlights that water stress due to climate change will only intensify, and by 2040, it is expected to increase by 2.8 times in some areas of the region. The anticipated reduction and deterioration of the quality of water resources will have a long-term negative impact on food, energy, and environmental security in Central Asia.
During the conference, in addition to independent experts, representatives of governmental structures also participated. Specifically, the National Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kyrgyzstan and the Institute of Economic Policy, which were transformed literally on the eve into the Institute of Strategic Initiatives. As this particular structure is responsible for providing analytical support to the President and the Cabinet of Ministers, the proposals formulated in the conference resolution could serve as the basis for decisions at the highest state level.
