Story | 25 Jan, 2019

Fostering water, energy and food security in Central Asia

Water represents one of the greatest challenges for Central Asia. As its population grows -projected to be 90 million people in 2050- so does the need for creating more jobs, producing more food, more energy - yet water resources are limited. Climate change impacts are expected to exacerbate this further.

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Photo: ©Shutterstock Nowak Luksaz

The Central Asia Nexus approach highlights the interdependence between water, energy and food security and the use of natural resources - water, soil and land - that underpin that security. Central Asia is particularly prone to risks of water scarcity with severe impacts on agriculture and energy production. Multi-sectoral decision-making and investment planning can improve human wellbeing and support socio-economic development, while providing benefits for all concerned sectors.

As part of a regional EU-funded programme, the Central Asia Nexus project is implemented by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) in partnership with IUCN, and supported by the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (EC IFAS).

The project facilitates multi-sectoral dialogue and supports cooperation among the five Central Asian countries. It aims to increase social and environmental resilience through innovative planning, financing and setting the stage for multi-sectoral projects.

A new visual story feature Fostering water, energy and food security in Central Asia explains what the Water-Energy-Food Nexus project is and how it is relevant to the Central Asian region. It was launched to coincide with the 6th European Union Central Asia High Level Conference on Environment and Water Cooperation, held from 24-25 January 2019 in Tashkent, where ministers and diplomats gather to discuss Central Asia’s future on a broad range of issues, including environment, climate change and water.

For more information, please contact ecaro@iucn.org