This was stated by Erlist Akunbekov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan, at the 4th High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action «Water for Sustainable Development» in Tajikistan.

According to him, the reduction of glacier areas and declining precipitation have already led to water shortages and pose serious risks for countries in the region.

«Today, the problem of glacier melt is no longer an issue of a single country — it is a challenge for the entire Central Asia. Without glaciers, there will be no water in rivers, and without water in rivers, there will be no life in the valleys,» the minister said.

Akunbekov emphasized that Kyrgyzstan is the only Central Asian country whose water resources are formed entirely within its own territory. At the same time, the country uses less than 30 percent of its water resources, while the majority of water flows into neighboring states.

He noted that only in the past year, about $80 million was allocated to maintain the water management sector, and $259 million over the past five years. In this regard, the Kyrgyz side has once again proposed introducing economic compensation mechanisms for upstream countries that generate regional water resources.

The minister also reported that Kyrgyzstan has developed a National Water Strategy until 2040 and adopted a new Water Code, which introduces modern water management mechanisms and strengthens the protection of water resources.

Special attention was paid to the state of Issyk-Kul Lake. According to Akunbekov, the lake’s water level has dropped by nearly 14 meters over recent decades, while the number of inflowing rivers has decreased more than threefold — from over 100 to around 30.

In response, Kyrgyzstan has proposed that international partners and donors jointly develop a comprehensive program for the conservation and restoration of the lake.

Conference participants noted that by 2050 the region may face further reductions in freshwater reserves, and sustainable water use will require closer cooperation between Central Asian countries.