Scientific Consultation on Climate Change Adaptation in the Water Sector Held at the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Management

On August 27, 2025, the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Management hosted a scientific consultation on climate change adaptation in the water sector. The event was organized by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in collaboration with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, with the support of the Blue Peace Central Asia initiative.

The main objective of the consultation was to gather the views of leading Kazakhstani scientists, identify research gaps, and refine priority areas in the field of water and climate. This will help expand the participation of the national scientific community in the preparation of regional analytical products and strengthen Kazakhstan’s contribution to the regional agenda.

Discussions addressed the challenges of water scarcity, accelerated glacier melting, and growing cross-sectoral competition for water resources. Particular attention was given to the development of the Community of Practice on Water and Climate Change Adaptation (CoP-WCCA).

The roundtable brought together scientists from leading research institutions of Kazakhstan, as well as representatives of CAREC, GIZ, and UNESCO. As a result of the consultation, a table of research priorities was developed, which will form part of Kazakhstan’s contribution to the regional meta-study and the Vision document for the Regional Environmental Summit 2026 (RES-2026).