Central Asian countries are establishing a joint system for monitoring climate-related threats

A regional forum dedicated to coordinating the efforts of Central Asian countries to reduce climate risks and prevent emergencies has kicked off in Bishkek. One of the key topics of the event was the creation of a unified digital system for monitoring transboundary natural hazards.

The forum, titled “Harmonizing Policies, Developing a Roadmap, and Creating Digital Tools to Coordinate Joint Efforts,” is being held as part of the “Restoring Sustainable Landscapes in Central Asia” (RESILAND CA+) program. It is organized by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan and the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia.

Representatives from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as international organizations including the World Bank, FAO, and UNDP, are participating in the forum.

Over the course of three days, participants will discuss joint measures to prevent climate-related emergencies, restore degraded lands, and enhance the resilience of natural landscapes.

One of the main projects presented at the forum will be the Regional Online Catalog of Current and Forecasted Transboundary Climate-Related Disasters. This new digital tool will consolidate data from Central Asian countries on mudslides, floods, and other natural hazards, improve the quality of monitoring, and accelerate decision-making during emergencies.

In his opening remarks at the forum, Akylbek Mazaripov, First Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan, noted that climate change, land degradation, and the increasing number of transboundary natural disasters require closer cooperation and coordinated approaches to risk management among the region’s states.

According to him, modern digital platforms and knowledge management systems will help ensure the rapid exchange of data between countries, improve the forecasting of emergencies, and increase the effectiveness of decision-making.

Another important topic of discussion was the development of a Regional Roadmap for Reducing the Risks of Transboundary Mudslides and Floods. Countries in the region are considering mechanisms for coordinating joint actions, financing issues, and the preparation of an investment plan to implement priority projects in the most vulnerable river basins of Central Asia.

Forum participants expect that new digital tools and coordinated approaches will help countries in the region respond more effectively to the impacts of climate change and reduce damage from natural disasters, which are increasingly taking on a cross-border character.