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The issue of climate change has already become one of the central topics in the international arena due to the growing threats it presents. It is not a secret that the dramatic climate change effects, resulting from the rise of temperature, pollution and mismanagement of natural resources, may be accompanied by a number of overlapping threats to international stability, such as poverty, desertification, energy and food security, as well as economic development and other maladies. These factors in many cases may serve as prerequisites for the emergence of conflicts between states sharing resource-rich land, thereby contributing to the destabilization of regional relations.

Central Asia is considered one of the world's most vulnerable regions due to its inherent aridity, the legacy of environmental mismanagement from the Soviet era, and poor central planning amongst other reasons. It is expected that climate change will primarily affect the key sectors of the region's development, including water, agriculture and energy securities. Therefore, regional policy cooperation should prioritize these particular areas.

Bobur Nazarmuhamedov holds an MA in Politics and Security in Central Asia from the OSCE Academy in Bishkek.

August 7, 2012

Theva

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I like this comment! What's this?

It is really different view point on climate change, I really appreciate that view of regional development special focus should be considered in water, agriculture -food security, energy and misuse of natural resource, which should be focused in future. so the paper articulate the importance of above major issues taken up further future development

December 12, 2012

Yuki Yoshida, New York University, (6)

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I like this comment! What's this?

The negative impact of climate change is obvious to everyone's eyes, but how it affects people's life would be different region to region. You describe how Central Asia's specific features have been and are continued to be damaged by the effects of climate change. I truly agree with you on that climate change will be a source of various types of conflict, for instance, conflict over water, resources, daily food, land, etc. Climate change literally deprives people of their basic needs, and occurrence of conflict for survival is inevitable. In particular, because crop production is highly important for many Central Asian states, conflict over scarce food as well as conflict over water to produce food would be further accelerated as the climate change exacerbates. I believe that joint water management, one of your suggestions, would be a very effective measure if this works properly. What I mean by properly is that water has to be equally allocated both to each country in the region and within the country. If this fails, conflict will likely occur, which significantly threatens regional stability and might create humanitarian crises there. A series of talks among all stakeholders in the region is crucial to make the joint operation happen.

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