Expert Backs UN Water Body to Tackle Global Drought and Climate Risks

Dr. Michal Kravčík, a Goldman Environmental Prize winner, has endorsed Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s proposal for a UN-based international water organisation. He calls the idea urgent and essential, noting the absence of a dedicated UN body for water issues. Kravčík highlighted the importance of the New Water Paradigm, which focuses on reviving small water cycles. He warned that ignoring these cycles could result in long-term droughts, as rain heavily relies on evaporation from land surfaces.

He sees the proposed organisation as a way to strengthen interstate water cooperation. It could also encourage knowledge exchange and updates to water laws at both national and international levels. To support this, he recommends forming a working group to apply the New Water Paradigm in Kazakhstan, with a focus on restoring small water cycles.

Additional steps include pilot projects to keep water in the soil and preserve rainfall in key basins. These cover the Caspian, Aral Sea, and Balkhash-Alakol regions. Earlier, Kazakhstan’s Water Minister, Nurzhan Nurzhanov, held talks with experts on implementing these recommendations for water and climate security in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The proposal aims to address global water and climate challenges through coordinated action. It seeks to improve water management and legal frameworks while promoting practical solutions on the ground. The initiative reflects growing recognition of water’s critical role in climate stability.