SCO to Tackle Central Asia’s Looming Water Crisis

Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are sounding the alarm over a looming water crisis in Central Asia, with the issue taking center stage at a recent summit in Tianjin. At the September 1st meeting, the heads of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan highlighted the growing threat of water scarcity, driven by climate change. In a significant move, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed the creation of a dedicated SCO center in Kazakhstan to study and address the region’s mounting water challenges.

The urgency is underscored by stark warnings from experts. Central Asia, one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to climate change, faces a catastrophic decline in its primary water sources: the vast glaciers of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. According to Andrey Podrezov of the Kyrgyz-Slavonic University, these glaciers, which feed the rivers sustaining the entire region, could shrink by as much as 90% by 2100, slashing river flows by 40%. This impending deficit threatens not only drinking water supplies but also agriculture, industry, and overall economic stability, raising the specter of future conflicts over dwindling resources.

President Tokayev’s proposal for a Water Problems Center aims to foster a collaborative, science-based approach. “Climate challenges do not recognize borders and cause damage to many states,” he stated, emphasizing the need for joint strategies against desertification, drought, and glacier melt. The initiative is particularly critical for Kazakhstan, whose major rivers originate in China’s Xinjiang region. As noted by political analyst Yersultan Zhanseitov, resolving the transboundary water issue has become the top priority in Kazakh-Chinese relations, requiring a balanced mechanism that accommodates the growing water needs of both nations.

Responding to the shared threat, other regional leaders put forth complementary initiatives. Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon stressed the need for financial mechanisms, such as an SCO Development Bank and Development Fund, to finance crucial water and renewable energy projects. This was echoed by Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who proposed an SCO energy consortium to fast-track the region’s transition to green energy. Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov announced that his country’s upcoming SCO presidency would focus on sustainable development and strengthening the organization’s global role.

Addressing the crisis requires massive financial investment that Central Asian republics cannot shoulder alone. The push for an SCO Development Bank, an initiative originally proposed by China, is seen as a vital step. Furthermore, Kazakhstan has offered to host a special SCO office at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) to streamline investment into climate and water-related projects. This plan seeks to consolidate financial tools and expert knowledge to mitigate climate change and secure a sustainable future for the region.

Beyond immediate environmental concerns, the water crisis is becoming a defining test for the SCO’s capacity for regional governance and cooperation. President Mirziyoyev emphasized that the organization’s strength lies in its ability to foster dialogue and find balanced solutions to complex challenges. As the SCO charts its course with a newly approved Development Strategy until 2035, its handling of Central Asia’s water crisis will be a critical indicator of its effectiveness and its ambition to build, as Chinese President Xi Jinping stated, a “community with a shared future for mankind.”