Features of Water Diplomacy in Central Asia

Water issues are traditionally one of the most complex and controversial issues in Central Asia. Over the 30 years since independence, the five republics have not been able to come to a single agreement on the use of water resources. Mainly because their interests do not coincide. The region is conventionally divided into agricultural and energy republics. Some need to irrigate their lands, others are interested in producing electricity. Each of the five republics strives to take into account primarily its own interests, sometimes disregarding the interests of its neighbors. The article deals with the problems of the development of water diplomacy between the states of Central Asia. It is noted that this problem is relevant for the region due to the peculiarities of the position and legal regime of transboundary rivers in Central Asia.

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WATER POLICY OF THE CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES ON TRANSBOUNDARY RIVERS IN THE CENTRAL ASIAN REGION

BULLETIN Series Historical and socio-political sciences ◽

10.51889/2021-1.1728-5461.23 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 68 (1) ◽

Author(s):

А.М. Nysanbayeva ◽

◽

G.Zh. Syzdykova ◽

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Water Resources ◽

Water Policy ◽

Point Of View ◽

Transboundary Rivers ◽

Asian Countries ◽

Asian Region ◽

Central Asian ◽

Central Asian Countries ◽

Water Issues

Water issues occupy a special place in the system of environmental security: water resources deficit, pollution, provision of drinking water to the population, use of transboundary rivers. The issue of distribution and use of transboundary rivers, which are the main source of drinking water for the population of the Central Asian region, has not yet been resolved. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, the population of our planet is 1 billion. Growth to 6 billion, respectively, has reduced the amount of water per capita by 6 times, and currently 80 countries of the world lack water resources. This situation is further aggravated by the transboundary nature of rivers. 40% of the world's population lives on the territory of 300 river massifs that have a cross-border status. For the countries of Central Asia, there is currently a problem of water scarcity. If this problem is not solved together, the problem may become worse. If each state does seek to consider and resolve this issue from an egoistic point of view,the situation becomes worse.

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Integrated of Water Resources and Environmental Management in the Transboundary Rivers Basins of Central Asia

Springer Water - Water Resource Management in Central Asia and Afghanistan ◽

10.1007/978-3-030-68337-5_1 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 3-12

Author(s):

P. I. Normatov ◽

I. Sh. Normatov ◽

Q. Odinaev

Keyword(s):

Environmental Management ◽

Water Resources ◽

Central Asia ◽

Transboundary Rivers

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Hydrological Processes Changes in the Transboundary Rivers of Central Asia

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-12555 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yaning Chen ◽

Zhi Li ◽

Gonghuan Fang ◽

Weihong Li

Keyword(s):

Water Resources ◽

Central Asia ◽

Human Activities ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽

Ecological Crisis ◽

Hydrological Processes ◽

Water Crisis ◽

Transboundary Rivers ◽

Average Temperature

<p>Central Asia, which is one of the most complex regions in the world, is crisscrossed with transboundary rivers shared by several countries. This work analyzes the effects of climate change and human activities on hydrological processes and water resources in these transboundary rivers over the past half century. The results show that the average temperature in the Tienshan Mountains experienced &#8220;sharp&#8221; increases in 1998, with the average temperature after 1998 being 1.0&#176;C higher than that during 1960&#8211;1998. This rapid warming has accelerated glacier shrinkage and decreases in snow cover. These changes influenced the hydrological processes, causing an earlier runoff peak and aggravated extreme hydrological events. Changes in mountainous hydrological processes affected regional water availability and intensified future water crisis in Central Asia. The mismatched spatial distributions of water and land resources, along with the intense human activities (e.g., overexploitation of water resources), have ultimately led to the present water crisis in Central Asia's river basins. This is the main reason for ongoing water conflicts in the region's transboundary rivers. In addition, with the ongoing high temperature prevailing over the central Asia region, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of natural vegetation in Central Asia during 1982&#8211;2013 exhibited an increasing trend at a rate of 0.004 per decade prior to 1998, after which the trends reversed, and the NDVI decreased at a rate of 0.003 per decade. Shrub cover and patch size exhibited a significant increase in 2000&#8211;2013 compared to the 1980s&#8211;1990s, including shrub encroachment on grasslands. The ecological crisis has not been alleviated due to the increased precipitation.</p>

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Politics of Central Asia: Water and Energy Aspect

RUDN Journal of Political Science ◽

10.22363/2313-1438-2016-3-7-18 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 7-18

Author(s):

S S Zhiltsov

Keyword(s):

Soviet Union ◽

Water Resources ◽

Central Asia ◽

Water Use ◽

Transboundary Rivers ◽

Legal Documents ◽

The Soviet Union ◽

Central Asian ◽

Energy Aspect ◽

Central Asian Republics

This article analyzes the situation regarding the water resources of the transboundary rivers that developed in Central Asia after the collapse of the Soviet Union when the previous mechanism of mutual account of the interests of all the Central Asian republics broke down. Particular attention is given to the factors that have an impact on the formation and implementation of Central Asian politics regarding water use. A comparison is made of the international legal base that regulates conflicts involving the water resources of transboundary rivers and the legal documents of the Central Asian states. The paper analyzes the reasons for the failure to create a multisided mechanism for resolving the disputes that arise among the Central Asian countries with respect to water use of the transboundary rivers.

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Modern hydro-energy problems in Central Asia

Post-Soviet Issues ◽

10.24975/2313-8920-2018-5-3-298-308 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 298-308 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

K. S. Zakharova

Keyword(s):

Water Resources ◽

Central Asia ◽

Water Use ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Regional Security ◽

Problem Solution ◽

Kyrgyz Republic ◽

Central Asian ◽

Water Problem ◽

Water Issues

One of the most complex problems for Central Asia is scarcity of fresh water and related transboundary water-sharing. The current situation is the result of countries` economic policy, lack of regional engagement on water use, global climate change, population growth and increased consumption of water resources, what has already influenced on reducing water availability.Feature of Central Asian drainage system is extremely uneven distribution of water resources not only throughout the region, but also throughout each country, what does not let republics take full advantage of water resources in its ensuring of the national interests. The major water sources of the region located on the territory of two countries as Kyrgyz Republic and Republic of Tajikistan, what causes difficulties in relations of these countries with Republic of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Republic of Uzbekistan. Furthermore, situation is compounded by different approaches of Central Asian countries to water use.Since the early 1990s, water issues became a factor of regional security. The potential of conflict in current mechanisms for water distribution is notably high, that is why water issues one of the priorities on the list of Central Asian problems and requires constant monitoring. Despite many discussion and attempts to resolve regional water problem, the sides have not come to an agreement. Involvement of other countries and international organizations in development of water problem solution has not been successful.With the election of a new President of Republic of Uzbekistan, there have been a warming of relations in the region and trend towards joint policy-making with respect to Central Asian development. That could have a positive impact on the situation with hydro-energy resources.

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