Climate change is considered one of the most important environmental, economic, and social problems of our time. This process, which occurs as the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases, disrupts the Earth’s energy balance and accelerates global warming. The effects of climate change manifest themselves through multidimensional consequences such as the rapid melting of glaciers, rising sea levels, increased extreme weather events, decreased agricultural productivity, and the depletion of water reserves. Disasters such as droughts, floods, heatwaves, and forest fires deeply affect both the economic and social structures in many parts of the world. This process creates new areas of vulnerability in developing countries, especially in terms of food security, energy production, water management, and public health.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) states that Central Asia is one of the fastest-warming regions in the world and that this region needs tens of billions of dollars to adapt to climate change. Especially in agriculture-based economies such as Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, the reduction of glaciers by around 30% over the last decade has seriously affected water reserves and agricultural production. Changes in the flow of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers threaten both agriculture and hydroelectric production, carrying the potential to cause regional socioeconomic instability. Similarly, Eastern European countries are also facing extreme weather events such as increasing droughts, floods, and forest fires.[i] These developments are creating new areas of vulnerability in terms of energy security, food production, and social resilience across a wide geography from Moldova to Georgia and from Ukraine to Serbia.
According to the estimates shared by UNEP, developing countries in Europe and Central Asia need 51 billion dollars of funding per year to adapt to climate change; however, only a small portion of this amount has been met so far. Tajikistan has reported its climate finance needs under this program as 8 billion dollars by 2030 and 17 billion dollars by 2050. Similarly, the cost of modernizing Uzbekistan’s irrigation and water management infrastructure is expected to approach 10 billion dollars by 2030. This financial gap does not seem possible to close without the support of internationally active organizations. Institutions such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the Green Climate Fund play a critical role at this point.[ii] In particular, the program implemented under the title “From Glaciers to Farms” has provided an investment of 250 million dollars with the aim of further strengthening the resilience of glacier-dependent agricultural communities. Within this scope, irrigation infrastructure, early warning systems, and women’s entrepreneurship have also been supported. Apart from all these, it is observed that many countries in the region are still not progressing fast enough in updating their national adaptation plans.
Eastern European and Central Asian states have moved toward various reforms focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and environmental awareness to combat climate change. Despite the ongoing war conditions, Ukraine has adopted a new climate law aiming to become carbon-neutral by 2050 and has decided to phase out coal energy by 2035. This policy shows that a transformation vision in line with the European Union Green Deal has been embraced. In Uzbekistan, investments in solar energy have accelerated, and thousands of technicians have received training in solar panel installation and maintenance at the “Ishga Marhamat” centers established in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In addition, energy-efficient housing projects and green mortgage mechanisms have been implemented in rural areas. In Georgia, early warning systems and fire management training have been strengthened to combat forest fires and land degradation. In Serbia, a just transition process has been launched in regions dependent on coal mining, and former female miners have been offered opportunities for green employment and entrepreneurship.[iii] These practices show that the transition to a green economy is not only an environmental process but also a transformative one in terms of social inclusiveness.
The fight against climate change in Central Asia and Eastern Europe depends not only on national strategies but also on regional cooperation. The World Bank’s Central Asia Climate and Environment Program aims to guide countries toward a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive growth model. The program’s RESILAND land initiative promotes partnerships in various areas such as pollution management, circular economy, and green financing.[iv] The development of joint water management and cross-border environmental governance mechanisms in the Amu Darya and Syr Darya basins is of critical importance for future food and energy security.
In conclusion, to ensure regional resilience in the face of increasing impacts of climate change, it is necessary not only to provide financial resources but also to strengthen policies based on knowledge sharing, social participation, and gender equality. At this stage, the holistic approaches developed offer countries a sustainable roadmap to achieve both environmental and socioeconomic development goals.
[i] “Central Asia Faces Billions in Climate Adaptation Costs, UNEP Warns”, The Times of Central Asia, https://timesca.com/central-asia-faces-billions-in-climate-adaptation-costs-unep-warns/, (Date of Access: 04.11.2025).
[ii] “Environment Program in Central Asia”, World Bank Group, https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/environment/brief/climate-and-environment-program-in-central-asia (Date of Access: 04.11.2025)
[iii] “How Eastern Europe and Central Asia are turning climate action into lasting benefits”, UNDP, https://climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/how-eastern-europe-and-central-asia-are-turning-climate-action-lasting-benefits, (Date of Access: 04.11.2025).
[iv] Ibid.
