Central Asia HDR 2005 - Chapter 4: Water, Energy and the Environment

From WaterWiki.net

Publication Title	Central Asia Human Development Report 2005 - Bringing down barriers: Regional cooperation for human development and human security. Chapter 4: The natural resource lifeline for Central Asia: Water, Energy and the Environment
Publication Type	Regional UNDP HDR
Author(s)	Johannes Linn et al. / UNDP/BRC
Publication Date	07 Dec 2005
ISBN-ISSN-EAN	ISBN: 92-95042-34-4
Publication URL	Report on UNDP/RBEC website pdf-file for download
Contact

1 Summary
2 Content
3 References
4 See also
5 External Resources
6 Attachments

Summary

Conclusions: Water, energy and environmental sustainability in Central Asia are inseparably interlinked and have very significant region-wide dimensions that call for regionally coordinated action.

First, uncoordinated and competing priorities for water use between upstream and downstream riparian states along the major trans-boundary rivers waste finite water resources, invite investments that are suboptimal from a regional perspective, increase the level of tension and risk of conflict between countries and local communities, and exacerbate the degradation of other environmental assets such as land, forests and wildlife.

Second, perverse agricultural policies and wasteful irrigation and drainage management practices are at the core of the region’s water problems and cause substantial losses in agricultural productivity. Significant benefits would be derived if all countries in the region were to pursue better national water management policies in a coordinated and mutually reinforcing manner. A more efficient use of water (and energy) resources would help reduce regional tensions about how to share limited natural resources.

Third, Central Asian countries have significant longterm potential for exports of oil, gas and electricity to markets beyond the region, but they need to cooperate with each other and their neighbours, and attract support from the international community to fully realize these opportunities.

Finally, Central Asia faces a number of important environmental risks that could damage the development potential and human security of the region as a whole. These clearly call for regionally coordinated approaches.

From the Content:

A brief history and the current situation;
Managing CA's Water Resouces: linkages to reg. WM; transboundary water infrastructure as public good; the "Water-Energy Nexus";
Challenges outside the region; regional approaches to national water policy challenges
Managing CA's energy issues... (Hydropower in Tajikistan)
Environmental Challenges and Opportunities: Key issues; environmental hot spots; the Aral Sea; The Caspian Sea;
Institutional development and external assistance / role of regional institutions and external assistance in water and energy;
Conclusions & Recommendations

Russian version:
Full Report: