Aral Sea - The Times Of Central Asia

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Regional Ecological Summit

Mirziyoyev Calls for Central Asian Environmental Solidarity at Astana Summit

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev used the opening of the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana on April 22 to argue that Central Asia must treat climate and environmental pressure as a shared regional challenge rather than a set of national problems. The meeting comes as Kazakhstan tries to turn ecology into a broader platform for regional coordination, investment, and policy action, Addressing fellow leaders and delegates, Mirziyoyev backed the summit’s theme, “Shared Vision for a Sustainable Future,” and said the meeting built on the regional dialogue launched at last year’s Samarkand Climate Forum. He said environmental diplomacy in Central Asia was becoming more systematic and consistent at a time when warming in the region was moving at twice the global rate. Mirziyoyev pointed to the loss of nearly one-third of Central Asia’s glaciers, unstable rainfall, growing water shortages, and land degradation affecting 80 million hectares. His remarks landed as water security has become one of the most urgent regional concerns ahead of the 2026 growing season, as recently reported by The Times of Central Asia. He also criticized what he described as weakening global environmental solidarity and called for fairer access for developing countries to climate finance, advanced technologies, and innovation. While welcoming regional efforts to put environmental protection at the center of cooperation, Mirziyoyev stated that, “Countries that have contributed least to global climate change are once again being left alone to deal with its consequences.” Mirziyoyev also highlighted Uzbekistan’s domestic record, including tree planting under the Yashil Makon program and afforestation on the dried bed of the Aral Sea. He also proposed new regional initiatives, including a Clean Air consortium, a Green Trade Corridor, a shared climate investment portfolio, and a Central Asian Red Book for biodiversity protection.

Regional Ecological Summit

Kazakhstan President Highlights New Constitution and Calls for Fair Global Ecological Cooperation at Astana Summit

Astana, Kazakhstan – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev used his opening address at the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana to underline Kazakhstan’s strengthened constitutional commitment to environmental protection and to call for fair, pragmatic, and unified global cooperation on ecological challenges. Speaking on Earth Day before regional leaders and senior United Nations representatives, Tokayev described ecology as far more than climate policy alone. “It is the very foundation of human livelihood,” he said. “It is about clean air and safe water, healthy soils and secure food systems. It is about the stability of communities and the dignity of future generations. It is also about clarity of thought, harmony of our societies, and their happiness.” The President said Kazakhstan’s new Constitution clearly reflects environmental protection as a fundamental priority of state policy and public responsibility. He described this constitutional commitment as embedding ecological safety and prosperity into the country’s long-term vision and “national DNA.” Tokayev warned against double standards in international environmental policy, saying developing and emerging economies must not be placed at a disadvantage as the world moves toward cleaner growth models. “The global transition to cleaner models must be fair, balanced, and stimulating,” he stated. Environmental cooperation, he added, should unite rather than divide nations and must be based on partnership, trust, and shared responsibility, “with no naming, no shaming, and no blaming.” Stressing the need for consistency in international norms, Tokayev also said: “The UN Charter is not Haute Cuisine, and cannot serve as a cherry-picking platform.” The President identified the region’s most urgent shared ecological challenges as water scarcity and poor water management, desertification, glacier retreat, air pollution, and biodiversity vulnerability. “The time for indicating successes is over; the time for making solutions has come,” he said. Tokayev then outlined concrete steps Kazakhstan is taking across several priority areas. On energy transition, he said Kazakhstan intends to increase the share of renewable energy to 15% by 2030 while reducing emissions by almost 35%. Renewable sources already generate more than 7% of Kazakhstan’s electricity, and the country is moving to expand clean generation capacity while modernizing major energy facilities. As the world’s leading uranium exporter, Kazakhstan is also advancing plans for its first nuclear power plant while introducing cleaner technologies at coal-fired generation sites. On water security, Tokayev highlighted the restoration of the Northern Aral Sea, where about 36% of the water surface has been recovered, improving water quality and fish stocks. He described the Aral tragedy as a warning for the wider region and the international community. “The Aral Sea remains a stark reminder of the consequences of unsustainable policies,” he said. He also pointed to a new interstate program aimed at preventing further degradation of the Caspian Sea, supported by a dedicated scientific research institute. Tokayev renewed his proposal, first advanced in Ashgabat last December, to establish an International Water Organization as a United Nations agency, and said the summit would host the first round of international consultations on the initiative. Addressing the Caspian region more broadly, Tokayev...

Art and Culture

Life After the Water: Uzbekistan Brings the Aral Sea Story to Milan

Uzbekistan made its debut at Milan Design Week 2026 on April 20, with When Apricots Blossom, an immersive exhibition at Palazzo Citterio exploring how craft and design can respond to environmental crisis. Running through April 26, the project is organized by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF), commissioned by its chairperson, Gayane Umerova, and curated by Kulapat Yantrasast, founder of WHY Architecture. It marks the country’s first major presentation at one of the world’s leading design platforms. At the center of the project is Karakalpakstan, a region in northwestern Uzbekistan that has experienced one of the world’s most severe environmental crises. Over the past six decades, the shrinking of the Aral Sea has transformed the area’s landscape, economy, and way of life. Once a vast inland body of water, the sea has largely disappeared, leaving behind desert, salt plains, and struggling communities. [caption id="attachment_47478" align="aligncenter" width="926"] The Garden Pavilion at Palazzo Citterio, indicative render: Lightweight latticed framework ‘deconstructed yurt’ by Kulapat Yantrasast. When Apricots Blossom, Milan Design Week 2026. Courtesy of ACDF and WHY Architecture[/caption] When Apricots Blossom traces this transformation while also looking ahead. “The Aral Sea is both a cautionary tale and an opportunity to offer a blueprint for other regions facing extreme environmental change,” Umerova said ahead of the opening. She emphasized that design and craft are not separate from these challenges, but part of the response. “They begin with people and knowledge.” Inside Palazzo Citterio, the exhibition unfolds as a journey through the region’s past, present, and possible futures. The main gallery features an installation of reed-like structures that evoke the landscapes of Karakalpakstan. Within this setting, visitors encounter objects and ideas connecting everyday life with broader environmental questions. A key focus is on three traditional practices: bread-making, yurt-building, and textile crafts. These are presented not as relics of the past, but as systems of knowledge shaped by generations of adaptation. [caption id="attachment_47534" align="aligncenter" width="8192"] Bethan Laura Wood at Palazzo Citterio - When Apricots Blossom - commissioned by ACDF. Image courtesy of ACDF[/caption] Twelve international designers have worked with Uzbek and Karakalpak artisans to create new pieces inspired by these traditions. Among them are custom bread trays and stamps (chekich), reflecting the central role of bread in Uzbek culture. Made from materials such as wood, felt, ceramics, and reeds, the works reinterpret familiar forms while remaining rooted in local techniques. Alongside these contemporary designs are artifacts selected by participants of the Aral School, an international postgraduate program that treats the region as a site for creative and critical exploration. The exhibition also premieres Where the Water Ends, a new film by filmmaker Manuel Correa and architect Marina Otero Verzier, offering a closer look at landscapes and communities shaped by the Aral Sea’s decline. [caption id="attachment_47480" align="aligncenter" width="976"] The main gallery interior, indicative render: Reed-link forms by WHY Architecture. When Apricots Blossom - Milan Design Week 2026. Courtesy of ACDF and WHY Architecture[/caption] Together, these elements form a broader narrative about how people adapt to...

IFAS

Insider’s View: Tashkent’s Water Diplomacy – From National Reforms to Regional Synergy in Central Asia

On April 22, a summit of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), one of the region's prominent organizations, takes place in Astana. The meeting of the Heads of the Founding States is especially significant because it marks the transition of the Fund's chairmanship to Uzbekistan for the 2027-2029 period. This will be our country's third mandate, following leadership terms in 1997-1999 and 2013-2016. Tashkent was at the forefront of the creation of IFAS. Yet returning to this leadership role after a decade comes in a fundamentally transformed regional landscape. Today, Uzbekistan brings not only substantial experience but also a broad portfolio of initiatives that have received international recognition. The Transformation of Uzbekistan's Water Sector for Sustainable Development Facing intensifying climate pressures alongside strong economic and demographic growth, Uzbekistan has made the restructuring of water resource management a core priority of state policy. The scale of the challenge is clear in the data. Over the last 15 years, per capita water availability in the republic has fallen by more than half, from 3,000 to 1,400 cubic meters per year. According to the Ministry of Water Resources, the annual volume of water resources has dropped to 51-53 billion cubic meters, a 21% decline from 1991 levels of 64 billion cubic meters. A major challenge remains the country's high dependence on external sources, as approximately 80% of surface water, or 41 billion cubic meters, originates outside the country. While the water shortage did not exceed 3 billion cubic meters prior to 2015, expert forecasts indicate that the deficit could reach 7 billion cubic meters by 2030 and 15 billion cubic meters by 2050. Recognizing the scale of these risks, Uzbekistan, under the leadership of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, is pursuing broad technological modernization of the water sector. In less than a decade, the area using water-saving technologies has grown from 28,000 hectares to more than 2.6 million hectares, now covering more than 60% of all irrigated land. At the same time, large-scale work continues across the country on canal concreting and the reconstruction of flume networks. By 2030, these systemic measures are projected to yield annual savings of up to 15 billion cubic meters of water. At the same time, the sector is undergoing digitalization. Currently, 11 information platforms are being deployed to manage the water cadastre, monitor pumping stations, and track land reclamation status. Over the past four years, the management of 100 major water facilities has been fully automated, the Smart Water system has been introduced at 13,000 water intake points, and more than 1,700 pumping stations have been equipped with real-time online monitoring devices. At the same time, the national economic model is also adapting. According to the Center for Economic Research and Reforms, the share of agriculture in GDP has declined from 32% in 2017 to 19% by 2024. Notably, against this backdrop, total agricultural production has increased by 17%. This divergence points to a transition toward more efficient resource use and higher productivity. Regional Synergy and Water...

Aral Sea

Uzbekistan Installs 37 Air Monitoring Stations in Aral Region as Environmental Cooperation Expands

Authorities in the region of Karakalpakstan have installed 37 automated air quality monitoring stations to track pollution levels in the Aral Sea region, according to Uzbekistan’s National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change. The project was implemented in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The system measures fine particulate matter, including PM2.5 and PM10, as well as gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and hydrogen sulfide. It also records key meteorological indicators, including temperature, humidity, air pressure, and wind speed. Data is transmitted in real time through the Aurisgreentech system, which officials say reduces human error and improves accuracy. During a recent visit to the region, UNDP's representative in Uzbekistan Akiko Fujii reviewed the work of the regional ecology committee's Situation Center, where monitoring results are processed. According to official reports, she also inspected a laboratory equipped to analyze air, water, and soil samples in line with international standards. “The United Nations will continue to support projects aimed at improving the environmental situation in Karakalpakstan,” Fujii said, noting the importance of reliable data in assessing pollution and forecasting ecological risks. The initiative comes as regional cooperation on environmental challenges gains momentum. From April 22 to 24, Astana will host a regional ecological summit bringing together UN agencies, international organizations, and government representatives from Central Asia and the Caspian region. The summit will include a ministerial session led by the World Health Organization focusing on the health impacts of environmental degradation in the Aral Sea area. Discussions are expected to address the links between pollution, public health, and the need for coordinated responses across borders.

Aral Sea

1853 Map of the Aral Sea Published in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society

An 1853 map of the Aral Sea, published in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, depicts the vast inland water body at a time when it was near its historical peak. The engraving, created by German cartographer August Petermann, was based on findings from a scientific expedition conducted in 1848-1849, according to historical materials referenced in the project. The expedition, led by Russian naval officer Alexey Butakov, produced one of the first detailed studies of the Aral Sea. Researchers measured its depth, mapped its coastline, and documented its islands, providing a comprehensive picture of a body of water that would later become a symbol of environmental degradation. Although widely referred to as a sea, the Aral is in fact a lake. In the 20th century, it ranked as the world’s fourth-largest lake. Scientific evidence suggests it formed around 17,600 years ago as a result of glacial melt. Initially freshwater, it became increasingly saline over time, while its water levels fluctuated over centuries. From the 1960s, however, the lake began to shrink rapidly. Large-scale irrigation projects diverted water from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, primarily for cotton cultivation. Over the following decades, the Aral Sea lost more than 90% of its volume, transforming much of the region into desert and salt plains, and severely disrupting ecosystems and local livelihoods. In 1989, the lake split into two separate bodies. The southern part, largely located in Uzbekistan, has almost completely dried up, forming the Aralkum Desert. The northern section has shown some stabilisation, supported in part by infrastructure such as the Kokaral Dam. This transformation, and its historical context, will be explored in Uzbekistan’s cultural exhibition When Apricots Blossom, which draws on archival materials and contemporary interpretation. The exhibition takes its name from a poem by Hamid Olimjon, written in the 1930s, symbolising hope and renewal. According to organisers, the project will combine history, art, and environmental reflection to present the story of the Aral Sea to an international audience. The exhibition will run from April 20 to 26, at Palazzo Citterio in Milan’s Brera district as part of Milan Design Week.