Kyrgyzstan President Warns of Climate Crisis, Glacier Loss at Astana Summit

As a nation deeply reliant on its natural resources, Kyrgyzstan faces an existential threat from the accelerating climate crisis. President Sadyr Japarov's stark warning at the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana underscores the urgent reality confronting Central Asia. Despite contributing a negligible amount to global emissions, our country is on the front lines, experiencing a dramatic increase in devastating mudflows and floods, causing millions in annual damages.

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despite Kyrgyzstan’s minimal contribution to global emissions—only approximately 0.03 percent—the country bears a significant burden of climate change.

The alarming loss of our glaciers, the lifeblood of our region, is a critical concern. With a 16 percent reduction already recorded and projections indicating a potential loss of up to 80 percent by the end of the century, the future of our water security is in grave peril. The declining water levels of Issyk-Kul Lake and the shrinking rivers that feed it are visible manifestations of this crisis.

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since 2020, the number of emergency situations, including mudflows and floods, has tripled, with annual damage reaching $16 million.

President Japarov rightly pointed out the imbalance in water resource management. Kyrgyzstan generates a vast amount of water, yet only a fraction is utilized domestically, with the majority flowing to neighboring countries. This situation necessitates a fair and equitable regional compensation mechanism for water usage. Strengthening cooperation and modernizing our water infrastructure are not just policy options, but imperatives for survival.

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Glacier area has shrunk by 16 percent, and it is projected that the country could lose up to 80 percent of its glaciers by 2100.

Kyrgyzstan is committed to addressing these challenges head-on. Our invitation to the Bishkek+25 Global Mountain Summit in 2027 signals our dedication to finding global solutions. We urge international partners to join us in developing water-saving technologies and mobilizing crucial climate financing to safeguard our future and that of the wider region.

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Kyrgyzstan generates approximately 50 billion cubic meters of water annually, but uses only 12 billion, with the bulk of the water going to neighboring countries.