Central Asia could face severe water shortages

Countries in Central Asia may lose their glaciers, which could lead to a serious water deficit in the region.

According to Caliber.Az, citing Kyrgyz media, this is highlighted in the annual report State of the Global Climate in 2025, prepared by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

The WMO reports that last year was one of the most destructive for glaciers in recorded history. Most of the record negative values have been observed since 2016, and glacier mass loss ranks among the five worst since 1950.

The glaciers of the Pamirs, Tien Shan, and Hindu Kush feed the region’s largest rivers — the Amu Darya, Syr Darya, Zeravshan, and Panj — which are critical for water supply, agriculture, and ecosystems in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

Although accelerated glacier melt temporarily increases river flow, experts warn that in the long term, it leads to a sustained decline in river levels, particularly during droughts.

The construction of large hydropower projects in the upper reaches of rivers also has a negative impact, altering natural flow regimes and placing additional pressure on river ecosystems.

The combination of climate change and river regulation could worsen the condition of deltas and floodplain areas, including the Aral Sea region.

The WMO therefore calls for a reassessment of water resource management approaches.

By Vugar Khalilov