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Euractiv
14-07-2025
- Business
- Euractiv
Kazakhstan is investing to tackle Central Asia water crisis
As glaciers melt and river flows diminish, Central Asia faces a growing water crisis that is testing regional cooperation, climate resilience and governance capacity. Kazakhstan, the region's largest country by landmass and a key downstream player, has moved to the forefront of efforts to address the mounting environmental and geopolitical pressures. More than 44 per cent of Kazakhstan's river water originates from outside its borders, flowing in from upstream neighbours like China, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. With climate change accelerating glacial retreat in the Tian Shan and Altai ranges, and water-intensive agriculture still dominant, the country faces complex challenges in balancing domestic needs with fragile transboundary relations. Profound effects The latest UN World Water Development Report 2025 warns of severe impacts if current trends continue. Bhanu Neupane of UNESCO's Division of Water Sciences said, 'The report reminds us that the fate of mountains and glaciers is somehow intertwined with the fate of humanity. These are not distant environmental concerns, but existential issues.' In Kazakhstan's southern regions, glacier melt accounts for up to 90 per cent of river flow, critical for irrigation and drinking water alike. The country's water-intensive sectors, particularly agriculture, contribute heavily to the strain. 'This figure is even higher than 72 per cent for agricultural uses in Kazakhstan… while placing mounting pressure around snow and glacier-fed rivers like Syrdarya and Illi,' Neupane added. Reforms to support adaptation To meet this challenge, Kazakhstan is undertaking sweeping reforms. At the Astana International Forum in May, Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev announced major infrastructure investments, including 42 new reservoirs, 30 reconstructions and the overhaul of more than 14,000 kilometres of irrigation canals. A new digital water platform, will centralise real-time data. Subsidies for water-saving technologies such as sprinkler and drip irrigation systems have been raised to 80 per cent. 'Kazakhstan views water not only as a natural resource, but also as a powerful driver of cooperation, sustainable development and regional stability,' Bozumbayev stated. In June, the country also adopted a new Water Code, seen as a legislative turning point. It introduces concepts such as 'water security' and 'ecological flow', mandates basin-level planning, and strengthens protections for small rivers, glaciers and wetlands. 'These are the recognition of water as an integral part of the environment, the basis of citizens' life and economic development… the introduction of water-saving technologies and adaptation to climate change,' explained Water Resources Minister Nurzhan Nurzhigitov. Regional collaboration Across the region, cooperation is gaining new momentum. The five Central Asian states reached a new water-sharing agreement for the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers. Tajikistan, which holds more than half of the region's glaciers, is leading with investments in early warning systems and nature-based solutions. This includes glacial lake monitoring, slope reforestation and pilot solar-powered drip irrigation systems in highland farms. Digital tools are also transforming management. River basin forecasting platforms now integrate climate, hydrological and crop data, allowing basin authorities in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to optimise irrigation schedules and reservoir releases. Still, gaps remain in cross-border sharing and governance. 'Water does not stop at borders – but the data often does,' regional experts warned in a recent opinion piece. Support from international partners The European Union is playing a key supporting role. At the 17th Kazakhstan-EU Dialogue Platform in June, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable water management. Germany pledged support for transboundary cooperation under the Green Central Asia initiative, while the Netherlands proposed a desalination plant in Aktau and a regional flood early warning system. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is also investing heavily in resilience. Following the devastating floods in 2024, it supported the launch of a flood early warning system for key basins and is now expanding it to include drought forecasting. In partnership with local authorities, the UN agency has helped develop water management plans for Lake Balkhash and secured climate finance for dam safety, including a $2 million grant from Japan. The Asian Development Bank's 'Glaciers to Farms' programme, which aims to mobilise up to $3.5 billion in regional investments, supports this transition. ADB Director Yasmin Siddiqi stressed the need for smarter infrastructure and shared incentives. 'Future investment must avoid repeating past mistakes. They must result in less water use overall through efficiency gains. We need smarter water infrastructure,' she said, calling for immediate action in the region. As Central Asia races to adapt to a future shaped by climate volatility and shrinking glaciers, Kazakhstan's efforts demonstrate both the promise and the complexity of developing sustainable solutions. Whether it is building dams, rewriting laws or digitising river management, the success of one country is inseparable from the fate of its neighbours. [Edited By Brian Maguire | Euractiv's Advocacy Lab ]
Euronews
06-06-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Talking dialogue, trade and climate action at the Astana Forum
Global policymakers, international experts and business representatives came together at the Astana International Forum to discuss the way forward in a world full of uncertainties and conflicts. Titled 'Connecting Minds, Shaping the Future,' the Astana International Forum (AIF) gathered over 160 international speakers and around 7,000 participants. The event kicked off with a plenary session, where heads of state and high-ranking officials expressed worry over the state the world is in today. President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, highlighted growing polarisation and increased confrontation between states. According to him, conflicts are brewing in 52 states, while their economic toll amounts to $19 trillion (€16 trillion), or 13.5% of global GDP. Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, underlined that global challenges are interconnected and require integrated solutions. Vulnerabilities only get worse when external alignment occurs without internal stability. Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, President of North Macedonia, spoke about the need for reforms in the United Nations. The organisation's bylaws were written 80 years ago and did not envisage the technology and complexity of the world in 2025. Ban Ki-moon, serving as the President and Chair of the Global Green Growth Institute, noted that climate change and deterioration of the environment can only be solved collectively, while Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Qu Dongyu highlighted that food is a basic human right and peace is a prerequisite for food security. The plenary session was followed by around 40 panels, side events and one-on-one sessions covering trade, transportation, green energy, carbon neutrality, climate action, economy, finance, development of AI and more. First and foremost, the Astana International Forum is a platform for connections and networking, including for business. As part of the forum, companies from France and Italy met with Kazakh businessmen and signed several agreements. France signed 15 agreements with Kazakhstan, key among them being a €90 million (€78 million) project for the construction of a hydrogen production plant, which will help decrease carbon emissions. Italy and Kazakhstan signed 10 memorandums for a total of €180 million (€157 million). The projects cover logistics, mechanical engineering, agricultural processing, industrial digitalisation and green energy. Negative effects of trade were also discussed at one the of the panels, where speakers considered how trade is weaponised today to serve egotistic goals. If in the 2010s global powers were promoting free trade, the wind has changed in the last decade. Experts share that trade is an effective weapon, especially in short term, but what matters is the goal behind it. Central Asia's role as a transit hub between China and Europe is undeniable today. The role of the Middle Corridor in this regard and its future development were also discussed during AIF. 'The turnover grew by 62 percent in 2024 and reached 4.5 million tonnes of cargo. The aim is to reach 10 million tonnes in 2027. About $15 billion (€13 billion) have already been invested in the development of infrastructure and transportation time sharply reduced to almost 14-18 days,' noted Director of Kazakhstan's Institute for Strategic Studies, Yerkin Tukumov. 'The Middle Corridor will not solve all the problems because it is and will remain very expensive for certain goods to go over land. But it can be a medium-term solution, one of the alternatives,' countered Jurgen Rigterink, First Vice President of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Kazakhstan also announced a new transport initiative called Kazakhstan at the Crossroads of the Continents. Considering that almost 80% of goods from Asia to Europe travel through Kazakhstan, the country is trying to ease the process by consolidating all transportation related services and companies in one platform. While the temperatures in the rest of the world are projected to grow by 3.7°C by the 2090s, temperatures in Central Asia will rise by 5.8°C, almost twice as much. This will jeopardise a variety of sectors, including water security, food security, economic stability, employment rates and migration. 'Climate change is not a standalone problem. It rather multiplies the threats and the problems in many different sectors,' highlighted Zulfiya Suleimenova, Advisor to the President of Kazakhstan. 'Climate change is a huge problem in Central Asia and we cannot really be speaking about sustainable economic development in our region without addressing climate related challenges.' For the region to effectively combat the problem it requires robust funding, but so far has only attracted less than 1% of global climate financing. One of the sessions at the forum directed attention to general accessibility and affordability of climate financing. The session was also able to bring together Central Asian ministries of economy and ecology to discuss acceleration of climate action. In the context of growing climate concerns, the importance of transition to green energy and diminishing of carbon emissions is underscored. Kazakhstan has set itself an ambitious goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2060. So far, emissions reduced by only 6%. To help the matter, the UAE-based company Masdar has pledged $1 billion (€880 million) for the development of renewable energy in Kazakhstan. At one of the panels, speakers highlighted Kazakhstan's potential in renewable energy, especially wind energy. The vast steppes can potentially generate 1 billion kW hours per year, which is eight times the need of the country, leaving the rest for export. Experts also noted that development of renewable energy infrastructure has driven the demand for rare earth elements, which have become the 'new gold.' In that sense, Central Asia has an advantage of rare earths reserves. Kazakhstan alone has 19 out of 34 rare earth metals. No discussion on Friday happened without mentioning the benefits and threats of artificial intelligence. The forum participants deliberated on AI regulation in terms of ethical and safe use. 'Soon AI will know more about you than you know yourself. Are you ready for such information to be shared without your permission? Even with government agencies, let alone publicly. I think we need to prepare for a new era of AI, look at it positively, but prepare legislatively, organisationally, and personnel-wise,' noted Yerkin Tukumov, Director of Kazakhstan's Institute for Strategic Studies. At the same time, Kazakh Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry Zhaslan Madiyev noted that Kazakhstan is already preparing a law that will regulate AI use to prevent its abuse. 'The idea is not to overregulate, but to consider some of the ethical standards,' Madiyev said, noting that the law is under consideration by the parliament at the moment. Over two days, the Astana International Forum pulsed with dialogue, exchange, and collaboration. From parallel sessions to high-level networking, participants sought common ground and fresh solutions, leaving with a shared commitment to shaping a more stable, sustainable future. The Pentagon's watchdog is looking into whether any of Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's aides were asked to delete Signal messages that may have contained sensitive military information that was shared with a reporter, according to two people familiar with the probe and documents reviewed by The Associated Press (AP). The Inspector General of the Defence Department's request focuses on how information about the 15 March US air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen came to be shared on the messaging app. Besides finding out whether anyone was asked to delete Signal messages, the inspector general is also asking some past and current staffers who were with Hegseth on the day of the strikes who posted the information and who had access to his phone. Democratic lawmakers and a small number of Republicans have said that the information Hegseth posted to the Signal chats before the military jets had reached their targets could have put the pilots' lives at risk and that for any lower-ranking members of the military it would have led to their firing. Hegseth has said none of the information shared was classified. But current and former military officials have said there is no way details with that specificity, especially before a strike took place, would have been cleared to share on an unsecured device. "I said repeatedly, nobody is texting war plans," Hegseth told Fox News in April after reporting emerged about the chat that included his family members. "I look at war plans every day. What was shared over Signal then and now, however you characterise it, was informal, unclassified coordinations, for media coordinations and other things. That's what I've said from the beginning." News of the imminent probe comes as Hegseth is scheduled to testify before Congress next week for the first time since his confirmation hearing. He is likely to face questions under oath not only about his handling of sensitive information but also the wider turmoil at the Pentagon following the departures of several senior aides and an internal investigation over information leaks. Hegseth has already has faced questions over the installation of an unsecured internet line in his office that bypassed Pentagon security protocols and revelations that he shared details about US military strikes in multiple Signal chats. One of the chats included his wife and brother, while the other included President Donald Trump's top national security officials and, inadvertently, The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson made no comment on Friday, citing the pending investigation. The inspector general's office didn't immediately respond to a request from the AP for comment. US President Donald Trump has made clear that Hegseth continues to have his support, saying during a Memorial Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia that the defence secretary "went through a lot" but "he's doing really well." Hegseth has limited his public engagements with the press since the Signal controversy. He has yet to hold a Pentagon press briefing and his spokesperson has briefed reporters there only once. The inspector general is investigating Hegseth at the request of the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi and the committee's top Democrat, Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island. Signal is a publicly available app that provides encrypted communications, but it can be hacked and is not approved for carrying classified information. On 14 March, one day before the US strikes in Yemen, the Defence Department cautioned personnel about the app's vulnerability. Trump has said his administration targeted the Houthis over their "unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence and terrorism." He noted the disruption Houthi attacks caused through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, key waterways for energy and cargo shipments between Asia and Europe through Egypt's Suez Canal. The Houthis attacked more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors, between November 2023 until January this year. Their leadership described the attacks as aimed at ending the Israeli war against Hamas in Gaza.
Euronews
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Astana International Forum calls for global reform, peacebuilding and climate cooperation
The Astana International Forum brought together heads of state, experts and international institutions to address global instability, climate change and conflict. At the plenary session, President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, noted that the world is at crossroads and conflicts have engulfed more than 50 countries. Italy's Giorgia Meloni highlighted Central Asia's strategic role. Discussions focused on UN reform, economic resilience and the Middle Corridor's rising importance. The rest of the forum's panels focused on a multitude of topics. Participants discussed weaponisation of trade, developing transport corridors, transition to green energy, threat to water and food security, and more.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Central Asia's Resources Spark a New Global Scramble
Having arrived in Central Asia to make deals, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni did a lot of name-checking during a policy address at the Astana International Forum. First, she went for the low-hanging fruit, giving a shout-out to Marco Polo, pointing to the legendary 13th century Venetian merchant-explorer to support her assertion that it is in 'the DNA of the Italian people' to seek new trade possibilities. She then dusted off a name that had fallen out of favor for decades — Halford Mackinder, the early 20th century British geographer who is considered a founding father of geopolitics — to explain why she was participating in a May 30 summit with the leaders of all five Central Asian states. She referred to Mackinder's heartland theory, a concept developed in 1904 that asserts the nation which controls the heartland's abundant natural resources will dominate global politics. She described Central Asia as the hinge of Mackinder's heartland, 'one of the pivots around which the fate of the world revolves.' Meloni sounded profound and sincere but invoking Mackinder's century-old ideas seemed somewhat out of sync with the substance of her message that the post-World War II system is broken, and nations now need to 'look beyond the horizon' to create a new order. 'Everything around us is changing and the few certainties we thought we had are no longer there,' she stated. In one respect, the Mackinder reference says a lot about how the European Union (along with the United States) is grappling with changing realities. The calls by Meloni and others for new thinking aren't being matched by actions to put an actual strategy in all the 'strategic partnerships' being forged with Central Asia. That Meloni retreated so far back into the past, instead of citing a more contemporary thinker to offer an intellectual framework for engagement with Central Asia, merely underscores a lack of vision, not just by Italy, but also the European Union and the United States. Mackinder may have been prescient in anticipating the importance of Central Asia's natural resources, but one should keep in mind that he formulated his ideas when an airplane could barely fly a few hundred feet, international finance rested on the gold standard, battleships were kings of the seas and AI was something right out of H.G. Wells. The complexity of global supply chains was unfathomable to him. His frame of reference was colonial. The Mackinder reference can also be seen as a mea culpa of sorts, tacit recognition that Western nations are playing catch-up in Central Asia, finally recognizing more than 30 years after the Soviet collapse that the region has a lot more to offer than oil and natural gas. For all of Meloni's talk about a need 'to look beyond geographic boundaries,' her visit to Central Asia stuck to largely familiar terrain. The announcements published during her visit sounded a lot like those produced following April's EU-Central Asia summit in Samarkand, or those coming out of Washington regarding a desire to strike deals for critical minerals, build out the Middle Corridor and forge strategic partnerships. Long on aspiration, short on details. Overall, the Italian delegation concluded 7 billion euros worth of investment deals with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, but the statements contained few specifics about the projects. The joint statement issued following the summit featured the usual language about creating an 'open and constructive dialogue,' while expressing an intent to 'expand cooperation in interrelated areas such as natural resources, climate and energy – including renewable energy, (e.g. solar, wind, hydropower etc.), critical raw materials, agriculture, connectivity and critical infrastructure – including through the EU's Global Gateway strategy.' But again, details were scant on how to achieve the lofty goals. One area where Italy seemed to set itself apart from the EU in general and the United States was an interest in helping Central Asian states address water resource management challenges and improve agricultural productivity. Still, while EU and US officials seem to know where they want to go in Central Asia, they don't seem to have a good road map to get there. Central Asian states aren't shy about wanting to give the EU and US directions. Both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are keen to have Western powers involved in the carbon and critical minerals sectors, as well as the development of green energy solutions. But they don't want to merely be sources of raw materials; they want to be refiners and exporters of finished products. Thus, for cooperation to be successful, a solid infrastructure needs to be established. There needs to be follow-up. At the summit, Uzbek leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined steps that Central Asian states want to see taken, calling for a 'comprehensive multilateral Program of Industrial and Technological Cooperation' enabling 'technology transfer, the introduction of advanced knowledge and best practices, [and the] creation of high-tech industrial facilities.' The watchword he used was 'localization.' Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sounded similar notes, calling for the creation of a mechanism in which raw materials are exchanged for investment, technology and know-how in other areas. He also expressed a desire for Western geological expertise to help map deposits of critical minerals. Both Mirziyoyev and Tokayev called for systematic and regular diplomatic consultations, as well as significantly expanded educational exchanges. They want to feel confident that Central Asia will remain on the West's radar. To build effective strategic partnerships, then, EU members along with the United States need to listen more and have the patience to lay the groundwork to expand trade while helping Central Asian states in ways that China and Russia cannot, providing knowledge and resources that assist the region in confronting climate change, building local capacity and making the most efficient use of dwindling water resources. The heartland has grown a lot more complex since Mackinder's day. As Tokayev noted in his opening speech at the Astana International Forum: 'We must recognize that the threats to global security are not only geopolitical.' By Justin Burke via More Top Reads From this article on
NDTV
05-06-2025
- Business
- NDTV
There's A Country India Must Take More Seriously: Kazakhstan
The Astana International Forum opened with a flourish in Astana, the Kazakhstan capital, on May 29. One may wonder why write about a Kazakh event when we are still debating whether Operation Sindoor is over or on pause. But it was exactly this that makes it so pertinent to write about Kazakhstan, Central Asia's largest country and roughly just a three-hour flight away from Delhi. Over two days, there was brainstorming and information-sharing at the highest level, encompassing a range of issues, as the forum aims to tackle global challenges by amplifying diverse voices. The plenary session was inaugurated by Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The Guest of honour was Paul Kagane, the President of Rwanda, whose country has seen horrific violence and genocide. Other speakers were President of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (now President and Chair of the Global Green Growth Institute), and Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization. But this was just the plenary session. Other sessions had speakers as diverse as Georgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy, and Haji Noorudfin Azizi, the Minister of Commerce and Industry of Afghanistan. In his opening address, President Tokayev noted that the forum was taking place at a time of great uncertainty in the world. According to last year's data, 52 countries were involved in armed conflicts. The economic losses from violence reached $19 trillion, approximately 13.5% of the world's gross domestic product. 'Kazakhstan views the modern turbulent world through the prism of constructive cooperation,' said the President. 'In our foreign policy, we prioritise dialogue over division and rely on respect for sovereign rights. Disregarding national pride and the historical and cultural traditions of peoples is unacceptable. At the same time, it is essential to respect the rights of all national minorities to speak their languages and to develop their cultures. That is why we firmly uphold the 'Unity in Diversity' principle in Kazakhstan'. This is what makes it imperative for India to partner with Kazakhstan. It is the ninth largest country in the world, equivalent in size to Western Europe, and the largest country in Central Asia. It is resource-rich with gas, oil, minerals, and rare earth metals. Militarily, it is also one of the strongest countries in the region. Yet, Kazakhstan voluntarily gave up its nuclear weapons. It has had border problems with a number of its neighbours, including giant China, but has been able to solve them. Solving territorial disputes goes a long way in enabling the development of a nation and society. Though India is a giant with a billion population and Kazakhstan is a nascent republic, only 34 years old with a population of about 20 million, there are many convergences in their foreign policies and positions on global issues. Like India, Kazakhstan has an autonomous multi-vector foreign policy. It has adroitly managed its relations with competing and rival powers. It shares the longest land border with Russia and continues its cooperation and relations with it, notwithstanding Western sanctions against it. The US is the largest investor in the country, followed by China, while ties with the European Union are strengthening by the day, as witnessed in the recent Central Asia-EU summit, and by the presence of Meloni. Drawing on its geographical location in Central Asia, which connects East and West, Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a bridge between different powers and stakeholders, which is what the AIF is all about. The country seeks to act as a consensus-builder and trusted partner, connecting regions, cultures, and ideas to shape a more cooperative international future. This can be seen in the two main initiatives adopted by the country - the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) and the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Understanding their relevance, India is a member of both platforms. Further reflecting the country's aim of being a bridge and a peacebuilder is Kazakhstan's contribution of trained military personnel to the UN's peacekeeping forces. Brave Kazakh women and men have participated in UN missions from Iraq to Côte d'Ivoire. In Lebanon, Kazakh peacekeeping forces together with Indian military personnel have served together under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). This is what makes the India-Kazakhstan military cooperation significant. Both countries have been holding annual joint military exercises since 2016. The 2024 Kazind Exercise was the eighth edition, which took place at the Surya Foreign Training Node in Auli, Uttarakhand. The primary objective of these exercises is to enhance the joint military capabilities of both countries, specifically focusing on counter-terrorism operations in sub-conventional scenarios under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. However, this is not all. Kazakhstan is also aware of the increasing fragility of the UN system and the current global order, and that in order to uphold multilateralism and strengthen the UN, reforms are a must. The call from Astana International Forum was loud and clear. 'Kazakhstan supports the expansion of the UN Security Council, including broader regional representation," said President Tokayev in his address. "Its structural reform is essential to ensure that the UN remains relevant and truly reflects the world as it is, not as it was,' he added. This is exactly what India wants too and has been urging, as discussed by the countries of the Global South. President Tokayev voiced this. Without reforms, the UN system was becoming obsolete. The message from Astana has been clear.
