Central Asia calls for fairer climate policy

Leading politicians from Central Asia and neighboring countries have warned that the global transition to a low-carbon economy could further exacerbate existing imbalances if it is not made more equitable. Developing countries, which have contributed little to climate change, are particularly hard hit by its consequences and should not be left to shoulder this burden alone. At the regional ecology summit in Astana on 22 April, Kazakh President Kassym-Shomart Tokayev emphasized that climate policy should not be at the expense of development. He called on the international community to take a more balanced and integrative approach. "The industrialized nations have reached their current level through decades of industrialization," said Tokayev. "In my view, selective approaches to environmental issues must not be accepted. The transition must be fair and balanced." He warned against political approaches that could restrict growth in emerging countries. "We must allow countries to develop without compromising their development opportunities," he said. "There must be no denunciation, shaming or blame." Tokayev also emphasized that environmental issues and global stability are closely linked. "These efforts should serve peace and equitable development," he said. "Nature can exist without geopolitics - and geopolitics cannot exist without nature." With regard to Central Asia, he referred to the shared risks in the region. "We share rivers, landscapes and climate risks, and above all we share responsibility," said Tokayev. Water scarcity, desertification, air pollution and the loss of biodiversity were among the most pressing problems. "It is time to find solutions." Unequal burdens, limited resources Other heads of state and government expressed similar views, pointing to growing environmental damage in their countries, although their share of global emissions is comparatively low. Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev explained that climate change is visibly and measurably accelerating in Central Asia. "Almost a third of the glaciers in the region have disappeared," he said. "Rainfall patterns are becoming more irregular, water scarcity is increasing and land degradation now affects 80 million hectares." At the same time, he criticized the gap between international announcements and concrete action. "Declarations and calls for action are not backed up by action," said Mirsiyoyev. "Once again, the countries that have contributed the least to climate change have to bear the consequences alone." He therefore called for concrete support mechanisms. "International solidarity is needed," he said. "Developing countries must have access to climate financing and advanced technologies." Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturian also referred to the particular vulnerability of mountainous states. Armenia only contributes 0.02 percent to global greenhouse gas emissions, but is already clearly feeling the effects of climate change. "As a mountainous country, Armenia is already severely affected today," he said. The average temperature has risen and will continue to rise until the middle of the century. Khachaturian reported more frequent flooding and increasing ecological damage. "Like other mountainous countries, our country is particularly vulnerable to climate change and environmental degradation," he said. At the same time, he called for priority to be given to the most vulnerable developing countries, especially mountainous states, in international climate protection measures. Climate change as an economic risk Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov focused on the economic consequences of climate change. "Climate-related challenges affect the economic development and well-being of our population," he said. Kyrgyzstan is only responsible for 0.3 percent of global emissions, but bears a disproportionately high burden. The sharp increase in natural disasters is particularly worrying. "Mudslides and floods have tripled since 2020 and cause almost 16 million dollars worth of damage every year," said Japarov. At the same time, he warned of the long-term consequences of glacier shrinkage. "The glacier area has decreased by 16 percent and we could lose up to 80 percent of our glaciers by 2100," he said. This would have serious consequences not only for Kyrgyzstan, but for the entire region. The water level of Lake Issyk-Kul has also dropped, while the number of its tributaries has fallen sharply. As Kyrgyzstan's energy system is heavily dependent on hydropower, this is exacerbating the situation. Japarov warned that inactivity could reduce the country's gross domestic product by two to three percent by 2040. Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon described water scarcity as a global challenge that requires joint action. "Water scarcity and environmental degradation have become an enormous challenge - not just regionally, but worldwide," he said. Although Tajikistan has around 60 percent of Central Asia's water resources, it is itself severely affected by change. "Of the approximately 14,000 glaciers, around 1,400 have completely disappeared," said Rahmon. The ongoing melting of the glaciers and the decline in snowfall are endangering the availability of water in the region. He also referred to the sharp increase in extreme weather phenomena: in 2025, Tajikistan recorded more than 60 dust storms with a total duration of around seven months - an extent that did not exist in this form in the past. Mongolian President Uchnaagiin Chürelsüch also warned of considerable risks for fragile mountain and permafrost regions. "Our unique but fragile ecosystem is already clearly feeling the consequences of this century's changes," he said. By 2050, his country's water resources could be reduced by half. Appeal to the international community Several speakers combined their warnings with an appeal to the international community to distribute responsibility more fairly. Tokayev warned that ecological challenges could not be viewed separately from global political tensions. "We are facing a time of growing uncertainty and unpredictability," he said. These developments impaired stability, quality of life and development opportunities and at the same time took away resources that were needed for ecological tasks. He spoke out in favor of stronger international governance and warned against selective interpretations of global rules. "The role of the international community is crucial," said Tokayev. "The UN Charter must be upheld. Selective interpretations should not be accepted either in international conflicts or in environmental issues." In conclusion, Tokayev emphasized that environmental policy must always be understood as a question of human livelihoods. "Ecology is not limited to the climate," he said. "It is about clean air, safe water, healthy food and stable food systems. Ecology is a way of living responsibly on our shared planet." The post Central Asia calls for fairer climate policy appeared first on ostwirtschaft.de.