On November 4-5, 2024, the 2nd Subregional Workshop was held in Almaty, dedicated to the project financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) jointly with UNDP and implemented by UNESCO. 

The aim of the workshop - is to strengthen cooperation between experts from different countries in the field of cryosphere research, review key ideas on climate change, cryosphere monitoring, data collection and exchange, and develop a framework for development scenarios. The new project highlights the importance of glacial-nival systems for maintaining regional water supply and sustainability of agriculture and energy.  

Participants:

The workshop was attended by about 70 people, including representatives of ministries, leading research organizations, specialists from hydrometeorological services of 5 Central Asian countries, as well as Switzerland. Gender-balanced presentations were attended by employees of a number of ministries, research institutes, NGOs, and youth organizations.

The Central Asian Regional Glaciological Centre (category 2) under the auspices of UNESCO (CARGC) was represented by the Director, Professor T.O. Balykbayev, as well as leading researches of CARGC N.V. Pimankina, A.B. Yegorov, T.G. Tokmagambetov, V.P. Kapitsa, Z.S. Usmanova.

Mr. Zh. Abrashov, Head of the MFA Representative Office in Almaty, Mr. Amir Pirich, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty and others addressed the participants of the seminar with welcoming words. Their speeches emphasized the importance of combining the efforts of scientists in strengthening regional cooperation in the field of cryosphere studies.

In accordance with the program, presentations of the identified problems of the cryosphere were held, taking into account the country specifics of each identified problem. Participants from Kazakhstan presented some data on the state of the cryosphere in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the impact of climate change on its degradation.

The prospects for the development of the water sector of the participating countries, the problems of efficient water consumption and assessment of the quality and reliability of information were the subject of special discussions. The training of young specialists remains a major problem: there is a shortage in the fields of study in hydrology, permafrost, avalanches, and cartography.

During the seminar, scenarios of changes in the cryosphere and water resources of the Syrdarya and Amu Darya rivers were presented, created on the basis of existing programs by scientists from the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) and presented by Ms. Martina Barandun. According to scenario forecasts, even by optimistic estimates, 25% of the glaciers in Central Asia will melt by 2100. Glacial runoff into the Syrdarya River will decrease by 30%, and in Amu Darya River basin, an increase in glacial runoff by 40% will be observed by 2100. The strongest changes will be observed in August and September. The peak of river flow will shift to spring. A large deficit in the Syrdarya River flow is expected at the end of summer. In Amu Darya River basin, the greatest changes are expected in the spring months.