Suna Park, Advisor to the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, as well as Director of the National Center for Green Transformation and Adaptation to Climate Change, highlighted the profound effects of changing weather patterns on Uzbekistan's economy, Kursiv disclosed.
Park underscored that Central Asia has experienced a significant rise in air temperature over the past three decades, surpassing the global average by twice the margin. Furthermore, the region has witnessed a 30% reduction in glacier area over the last half-century. These environmental shifts have contributed to water scarcity, soil degradation, and heightened vulnerability to natural disasters.
"Untimely action to reduce the impact of climate change can lead to serious problems in agriculture," noted Park.
Such challenges could result in diminished crop yields, decreased agricultural productivity, reduced incomes for farmers, and elevated prices for essential food items within Uzbekistan.
Water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change, poses a multifaceted challenge for Uzbekistan. In addition to impacting agricultural irrigation, it also affects electricity generation at hydroelectric power stations, crucial sources of power for the country. Currently, Uzbekistan faces a water deficit of 3 bn cubic meters, with projections from the Asian Development Bank suggesting that this shortage could surge to 7 bn cubic meters by 2030 and escalate to 15 bn cubic meters by 2050.
Moreover, climate change threatens public health, potentially leading to issues such as malnutrition and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. Alarmingly, experts anticipate the emergence of over two million climate migrants in Central Asia by 2050, underscoring the urgent need for proactive measures to address climate-related challenges.
"In this regard, climate change is the focus of attention of the government of Uzbekistan. The fight against climate change is an integral and one of the most important parts of the country’s public policy," emphasized Park.
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