Building a Water Security Framework

Kazakhstan Faces Looming Water Crisis Ahead of 2026 Environmental Summit

Ahead of the 2026 Regional Environmental Summit, the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KazISS) presented an analytical report, "Water Security in Kazakhstan: Current Challenges and Future Alternatives," developed in collaboration with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

During the event, KazISS Director Zhandos Shaimardanov emphasized the importance of an integrated approach to water resource management amid climate challenges. He noted that constructive dialogue among the scientific community, government agencies, and international partners is a key condition for achieving water security in the region.

The report's key findings were presented by Asel Aben, the institute's chief expert in economic policy analysis. The primary objective, she explained, was to conduct a thorough assessment of the situation—identifying both internal and external challenges Kazakhstan faces and determining how to build a sustainable water security system moving forward.

"According to international experts, Kazakhstan will enter a zone of high water stress within the next 15–20 years," Aben said. "The issue is no longer just about the volume and availability of water resources—it's about establishing an effective water governance system."

The report analyzes a range of interconnected risk factors, including infrastructure limitations, economic and social vulnerabilities (with annual losses from inadequate water supply estimated at around $750 million), and disparities in access to water services. While 94% of urban residents have access to centralized water supply, only 63% of rural populations do. The study also highlights droughts, flooding, severe water shortages in the Aral Sea basin, heavy maritime traffic at the port of Aktau, and the country's reliance on transboundary rivers for surface water.

Aben identified a critical shortage of skilled professionals in the water sector as another pressing issue. She stressed the need to develop a cohort of experts with interdisciplinary skills in both water resource and energy management.

"Equally important are the steps we take to contribute to global decision-making," she added. "Kazakhstan positions water security as a pillar of global sustainability and promotes initiatives aimed at strengthening international coordination and building a more effective institutional framework. Our country is working to elevate water issues on the global agenda, and the upcoming Regional Environmental Summit is a testament to that. The goal is not just rational water use but the creation of a comprehensive water security system."

Barbara Janusz-Pawletta, head of the International Water Management Institute's (IWMI) office in Uzbekistan, delivered a detailed presentation on the institutional and legal dimensions of regional water cooperation in Central Asia.

"Kazakhstan's water security is deeply intertwined with the countries it shares water resources with. In preparing this report, our goal was to examine the issue through the lens of regional relations," she noted.

The report highlights critical challenges and climate-related risks, as well as shifts in socioeconomic dynamics—both within Kazakhstan and across the region. This analysis enables us to anticipate future developments and propose actionable solutions," the IWMI representative added.