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According to the latest Asian Development Bank report , climate change will become the main cause of population displacement in Central Asia.

In countries such as Tajikistan, increasing temperatures might reduce the availability of water by 30%. Widespread water shortages, desertification and land degradation combined with already prevalent high levels of poverty and weak governance will become a serious risk to populations in Central Asia. The most severe impacts will be felt by the poorest people living in rural areas.

Besides of water scarcity – and here desertification of the Aral Sea might unfortunately be the most prominent example - energy security in the era of climate change remains a key issue for the region. In addition, for most former Soviet Republics, greenhouse gas emissions linked to specific economic sectors constitute a severe challenge in terms of mitigation.

The expert roundtable organised by the Multinational Development Policy Dialogue Programme of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Brussels will convene climate change experts from the region as well as development practitioners in order to discuss the status quo, the adaptation support and mitigation policies needed in order to take the right action in a timely manner.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Dr. Ubaydulla Nadirkhanov, manager for international relations, International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, Uzbekistan

• Wladimir Korotenko, Chairman of the council of the environmental movement BIOM, Kirgizstan

• Luvsandamdin Nyam, Head of Unit, Forestry Office of Mongolia

• Viktor Novikov, Zoi Environment Network, Geneva, Switzerland

• Juriy Gorshkov, manager for water resources, Agency of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS Agency), Uzbekistan

Programme

10:00 Welcome remarks by Andrea E. Ostheimer, Programme Director, Multinational Dialogue on Development Policy, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

10:15 Panel I Assessing the threat to Central Asia’s environment, ecological and socio-economic systems

11:00 Discussion

11:30 Panel II Taking action today before it might be too late – reduction of the likelihood of future humanitarian crises by adaption through new development mechanisms 12:30 Discussion

13:00 Lunch

14:30 Panel III Water supply and land management as potential sources of conflict in Central Asia

15:15 Discussion

16:00 Closing remarks by Andrea E. Ostheimer, Programme Director Multinational Dialogue on Development Policy, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung End of event