Kyrgyzstan Draws International Attention to Climate Risks for Lake Issyk-Kul

Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on February 4, Bakyt Torobaev, Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, highlighted the growing threat climate change poses to Lake Issyk-Kul, the country’s largest lake, a unique ecological reserve, and one of Central Asia’s leading tourist destinations. Torobaev described Issyk-Kul as a unique ecosystem of regional significance and a vital socioeconomic and environmental resource for Kyrgyzstan. However, in recent decades, the lake has experienced serious climate-related pressures, according to the Ministry of Water Resources. Since the mid-19th century, the lake’s water level has dropped by nearly 14 meters, while its total volume has decreased by approximately 85 billion cubic meters. The number of rivers flowing into the lake has also significantly declined, largely due to melting glaciers and increased agricultural water use. Torobaev warned that further declines in Issyk-Kul’s water level could lead to severe environmental and socioeconomic consequences, including threats to biodiversity, the lake’s tourism potential, and the well-being of the local population. Kyrgyzstan, he said, sees the preservation of Issyk-Kul as part of the broader global climate and water agenda, calling for a shift from short-term measures to long-term, science-based, and investment-driven solutions. He urged the international community to strengthen partnerships in sustainable water resource management, integrate climate, water, and ecosystem approaches, and support joint initiatives aimed at preserving ecologically significant natural sites. In December 2025, Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers approved the Concept for the Sustainable Development of the Ecological and Economic System of Lake Issyk-Kul until 2030, along with a corresponding Action Plan. The initiative aims to safeguard the lake and its surrounding biosphere from mounting environmental and human pressures while enhancing long-term economic resilience in the region. Torobaev also addressed the broader issue of water scarcity, which is becoming an increasingly critical factor for regional stability, food security, and sustainable development in the context of climate change. As a mountainous country that serves as a key source of Central Asia’s rivers, Kyrgyzstan bears particular responsibility for the sustainability of the region’s water ecosystems, he said, and consistently advances the water agenda at international forums. Also on February 4, Torobaev participated in a Global Councils on SDGs meeting at the summit, where he proposed greater global attention to the challenges facing mountain regions. He said that mountain ecosystems are among the most vulnerable to climate change. Melting glaciers, shifting precipitation patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events pose long-term risks to water resources, agriculture, and energy security in Central Asia and beyond. Kyrgyzstan, he said, advocates for recognizing mountain regions as special zones for sustainable development and ensuring their prioritized access to climate finance, adaptation technologies, and environmental monitoring systems. According to Torobaev, the sustainability of mountain regions is directly linked to the water and food security of millions of people, underscoring the need for systemic and coordinated international responses.

Kyrgyz Authorities Take Action to Curb Rising Food Prices

Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Bakyt Torobaev has directed key government agencies to implement urgent measures aimed at stabilizing prices for socially significant food products. According to official information, the government’s list of essential goods includes meat, vegetable oil, flour, potatoes, sugar, carrots, onions, and other staples, totaling 50 items. Torobaev’s directive includes enhanced monitoring of price fluctuations, tighter oversight of food imports and exports, and a focus on inflation risk mitigation. He has called for the development of short-term mechanisms to contain price increases. The Antimonopoly Regulation Service and the National Statistics Committee have been tasked with conducting daily price monitoring in major cities. The State Tax Service has been instructed to explore the possibility of reducing VAT on imported food products. In parallel, the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan is expected to design preferential loan mechanisms for agricultural producers and livestock breeders. Torobaev emphasized the urgency of these measures, noting that approximately 65% of the population derives income from agriculture, and that expanded state support is critical to economic stability. In Bishkek, the government plans to open municipal pavilions where essential food items will be sold at fixed prices. If successful, the model will be scaled to other regions as part of broader anti-crisis efforts. “The Cabinet of Ministers is continuously working on implementing and overseeing a unified pricing policy,” said Torobaev. According to the National Statistics Committee, Kyrgyzstan’s consumer price index rose by 4% in the first half of 2025. Food prices increased by an average of 6%, with potatoes showing the steepest rise, nearly 50%, during the same period.