Water scarcity under review at Astana International Forum 2023

Water scarcity - a rising problem around the globe

Stephen Cole, a former journalist at the BBC who moderated the discussion, said that 70% of the planet is covered by water, but nearly 97% of that water is salt water, and another 2% is frozen in ice caps and glaciers. “That leaves only 1% of the planet’s drinking water available for billions of people around the world,” he said. “Water scarcity is also an issue in Kazakhstan, as 90% of Kazakhstan’s water arrives in one big spurt with spring runoff,” added Cole.

He suggested that the problem is a water surplus in some places and a deficit in others. He added that 3.5 billion people around the globe live under conditions of water stress for at least one month of the year. Cole reminded the audience that the recent United Nations Water Conference urged countries to take bold and coordinated action internationally.

Henk Nieboer spoke about the over-exploitation of finite resources. Other issues at the core of the problem are excessive pollution, nutrient loading from chemicals, and institutional issues such as a lack of coordination between sectors or countries.

International cooperation needed

According to Mathilde Mesnard, Deputy Director and Coordinator for Climate and Green Finance for the Environment Directorate at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, global climate change and economic growth will further increase fierce competition for water in the Central Asian region. She stressed the importance of cooperation and dialogue in addressing water security. She commended the efforts of Central Asian countries in transboundary cooperation in the past 30 years.

Randall Bruins, former environmental scientist and Strategic Advisor at Enactus Kazakhstan, suggested several innovative solutions, including the use of agricultural waste in water filter production. “We must transform more of our student projects into sustainable enterprises,” he added.

Nieboer also emphasised the importance of international cooperation, as most of the water comes from neighbouring countries. “It is encouraging that Kazakhstan already has some quite robust boundary water maintenance treaties in place, although not for every river basin. The Kazakh Government has a strategy to create a green economy,” said Nieboer.

He noted that water availability and demand could be matched by reducing water usage, creating water conservation ecosystems, and green agriculture. He believes that agriculture should be reoriented towards less water-intensive crops, less agrochemical loads, integrated pest and disease control, and irrigation technologies.

Creative solutions to water scarcity

Cole asked Mesnard for creative examples of addressing water scarcity in Central Asia. She outlined four key areas for development in this region: inter-regional coordination of water source management; a joint investment plan for water and energy infrastructure between Central Asian countries; enhanced interaction and synergies between water sector institutions and the energy sector; and, the application of insurance and blended finance mechanisms.

As an example of innovation in Central Asia, Mesnard mentioned a strawberry producer that invested in open greenhouses, reduced water consumption by 95%, and reduced land and water pollution by not using pesticides. To persuade farmers to be more creative in using water, Estelle Peyen, Founder and President of Cross Country Skiing Sand (XCSS), suggested agroforestry courses for farmers and teaching them to reuse their organic waste by producing bio compost. 

The experts also emphasised the importance of education in water management. “People need to be aware of the intrinsic value of water. We need the power of storytelling, communication, and inspiration. This is what we need to work on,” Nieboer concluded.

This news item was originally published in ‘The Astana Times’.