Central Asia and EU Forge Climate Partnership at Samarkand Forum

Climate Change Threatens Central Asia’s Future

At the Samarkand Climate Forum, held in Uzbekistan, experts and regional leaders issued stark warnings about the accelerating pace of climate change in Central Asia. Rising temperatures, shrinking fertile land, and increasing water scarcity pose an existential threat to the region—one that could affect more than 100 million people within the next 25 years.

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who hosted the forum, emphasized the urgency of coordinated action. “Climate change is inextricably linked to food and energy security. Fertile lands are rapidly decreasing while the region’s population continues to grow. In a quarter of a century, crop yields may fall by a third,” he stated.

Over 20 percent of the region’s land is already undergoing degradation, a trend that, if unchecked, could result in massive disruptions to food systems and regional stability.

A Strategic Climate Partnership with the European Union

The Samarkand Climate Forum follows the Central Asia–European Union Summit, which elevated interregional cooperation to a strategic level. High-level attendees included the presidents of all five Central Asian countries, as well as the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

President Mirziyoyev called for scientific collaboration through the EU’s HORIZON EUROPE Program to enhance food security and climate resilience. “We must strengthen the adaptation capacity of our forestry and agriculture sectors,” he said.

EU leaders echoed his call. Von der Leyen confirmed the EU’s commitment to building a climate partnership with Central Asia. “Climate security will be central to our new strategic partnership. We aim to help the region adapt to a changing climate, accelerate the clean energy transition, and build resilience,” she said.

She noted that several Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, have already joined the EU’s global pledge to double energy efficiency and triple renewable capacity by 2030.

Antonio Costa reinforced the message: “Our strategic partnership will pool European resources and expertise to support Central Asia in water management, green development, and energy security. This is a shared future we must build together.”

Green Investments and Local Solutions

The European Union is actively investing in climate adaptation projects across the region. One key initiative is the development of a “green belt” in the Aral Sea basin, an area once home to one of the world’s largest lakes. This effort involves reforestation, soil restoration, and water-saving technologies to help local farmers adapt to a drier, more arid climate.

European technologies, including satellite monitoring and drought-resistant crop research, are also being shared with Central Asian farmers.

On the industrial front, the EU is financing large-scale renewable energy projects, such as the Rogun dam in Tajikistan and the Kambarata dam in Kyrgyzstan. These hydroelectric facilities aim to meet regional power needs and support new industries focused on processing raw materials and producing clean hydrogen.

“These projects will power green transport corridors, help electrify infrastructure, and reduce our shared carbon footprint,” von der Leyen explained.

A Shared Response to a Regional Crisis

The presidents of Central Asian nations presented a range of initiatives requiring international support—such as a unified water usage strategy and mass afforestation programs. Uzbekistan, in particular, is already planting millions of trees to halt desertification.

Despite past tensions, the forum highlighted a spirit of collaboration. “The presence of state leaders and development bank representatives shows that stakeholders are ready to act,” said Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat.

The symbolism of hosting the forum near the Aral Sea—once the world’s fourth-largest lake, now reduced to a saline wasteland—was not lost on participants. A product of aggressive agricultural expansion during the Soviet era, the Aral Sea stands as a stark reminder of the consequences of environmental mismanagement.

From a thriving ecosystem supporting 60,000 tons of fish per year, the sea has shrunk to just 8,000 square kilometers, with salinity levels that make it almost lifeless. As recently as five years ago, some nations in the region were embroiled in disputes over dwindling water resources.

Now, they are united around a table, discussing shared solutions with EU partners to prevent further catastrophe.

As the Samarkand Climate Forum came to a close, a new tone of urgency mixed with cautious optimism prevailed. Regional cooperation, supported by global partnerships and technological innovation, may yet shift the trajectory away from crisis.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for ongoing coverage of climate resilience, sustainable development, and international cooperation in Central Asia and beyond.