Beyond Borders Conference: Addressing Climate Change, Water Scarcity, and Migration in Central Asia

11 December 2024

The Beyond Borders: Central Asia in the Face of Climate Change, Water Scarcity, and Migration Challenges conference, organized by the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) and the Center for Policy Research and Outreach (CPRO) of the Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT), took place on October 15-16, 2024, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

This two-day conference brought together experts from across Central Asia and Europe to address the pressing issues of climate change, water scarcity, and migration, focusing on understanding the socioeconomic impacts in the region explored through keynote sessions, panel discussions, and thematic sessions. Highlights included sessions on climate change perceptions, water governance, climate change adaptation, and migration. The conference provided a unique interdisciplinary opportunity for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss collaborative solutions and future strategies to enhance Central Asian resilience.

Tilman Brück (IGZ, Germany) opened the conference with a keynote address on how crises impact livelihoods, while Asel Murzakulova (University of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan) presented on the interconnections between migration, climate change, and adaptation challenges in the region. Their insights set the tone for vibrant discussions on the future of Central Asia in a changing climate. A highlight of the conference was the panel discussion on Climate Change, Water Scarcity, and Migration in Central Asia, moderated by Bekzod Zakirov (CPRO/WIUT). The panelists  Khurshid Zafari (Institute for Development of Social Protection, Uzbekistan), Barbara Janusz-Pawletta (IWMI Regional Representative Office for Central Asia), and Isomiddin Akramov (UNDP Uzbekistan)panelists shared their perspectives on the escalating challenges of water scarcity and how it  influences adaptation and migration while also discussing possible adaptive strategies to manage the impacts of climate change on local populations. The session underscored the urgent need for integrated policies, including national adaptation plans, that address environmental and social dimensions, encouraging cross-sector collaboration between governments, international organizations, and local communities

Throughout the conference, it became evident that discourse on climate change and migration in Central Asia has evolved significantly in recent years. The topic has become more prominent in research, as demonstrated in many conference presentations. This shift highlights the increasing recognition of the complexity and urgency of addressing climate change, including increasing water stress, and migration in the region.

The conference was part of the CAWAMNET project (Central Asian Water Scarcity and Migration Network) and organized by Nodir Djanibekov and Kathleen Hermans on the IAMO side. The organizers gratefully acknowledge financial support from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

More information about the conference, its agenda and photo gallery is available here https://conference.wiut.uz/nexus2024

Contacts

Kathleen Hermans

Nodir Djanibekov