Four Factors Combining to Push Central Asia into ‘Chronic Phase of Water Shortage,’ Pritchin Says

Paul Goble
    Staunton, Feb. 19 – Stanislav Pritchin, head of the Central Asia sector of IMEMO of the Russian Academy of Sciences, says that four factors are now combing to push the countries of Central Asia into what he calls “a chronic phase of water shortage,” one they will find extremely difficult to escape.
    The four are global warming that is leading to a melting of glaciers and greater evaporation of rivers and reservoirs, a rapidly expanding population that is increasing demand, aging infrastructure which isn’t being replaced, and the absence of supernational supervisory bodies to ensure the fair sharing of water flows (kun.uz/ru/news/2025/02/19/k-2028-godu-tsentralnaya-aziya-pereydyot-v-xronicheskuyu-fazu-defitsita-vody).
    The first two are things the countries can do very little about. The third will require a new commitment by the governments there to spend the enormous sums needed to rebuild irrigation and other water facilities. And the fourth will necessitate political will in the region or the intervention of outside powers.