Climate change in Kyrgyzstan

Climate change is evident in Kyrgyzstan. Among the countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan is the third most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as changes in weather patterns that could lead to prolonged periods of precipitation and drought.^[1] Moreover, the frequent occurrence of extreme weather and climate events such as heatwaves, droughts, heavy rainfalls, and biotic/abiotic catastrophes during recent years are evidence of climate change.^[2] Kyrgyzstan is threatened with glacier melting and a lack of freshwater balance, which are accelerated by global warming.^[3] The average temperature has increased from 4.8 °C to 6 °C so far within the last 20 years.^[4] In 2013 the World Bank estimated a likely increase of 2 °C in average mean temperature by 2060 and of 4–5 °C by 2100, noting that the country's glaciers were significantly reduced and projected to decline further.^[5] A significant warming trend in Kyrgyztsan with a projected increase of 6°C under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenario SSP5-8.5 from 2076 to 2096.^[6] However the very slight increase in temperature is expected to positively affect climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, energy, and forestry as more land is within the optimum temperature band.^{[citation needed]}

Greenhouse gas emissions are small,^[7] at 17 million tonnes CO2 equivalents in 2017^[8]: 23 and net zero is the goal for 2050.^[8] The International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA, has suggested that auctions could be held to install more solar photovoltaics, wind power, bioenergy and small hydropower. They also suggest that electrifying transport, which is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas, would save money on fuel imports. And they suggest replacing coal with renewable sources of energy would both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide healthier home heating. They also say that all electricity should be charged for by the amount used and that the retail price of electricity should be gradually increased, but there should be some way to stop the price increases hitting poor people.^[8]

Köppen climate classification map for Kyrgyzstan for 1980–2016

2071–2100 map under the most intense climate change scenario. Mid-range scenarios are currently considered more likely^[9][10][11]

Making up over 40 percent of the country's labor force, the agricultural sector is one of the largest economic sectors for Kyrgyzstan.^[12] The majority of the vegetable production is seasonal.^[12] Weather patterns are expected to change during seasonal periods.^[5] The summer months are expected to show a significant reduction in precipitation, whereas the winter months are expected to have the largest increase in precipitation.^[5] Changes to these precipitation patterns will affect what crops will be suitable for production during those periods.^[5] Grazing lands and pastures for livestock production will be affected as the availability of precipitation will determine growth and the ability to regenerate.^[5]

Glaciers and snow melt are important for filling up rivers that Kyrgyzstan relies on.^[13] Hydro power is the country's main source of energy, making up about 90 percent of electricity generation.^[5] Climate change will cause further complications as hydroelectric generation will not be able to meet peak demand during the winter season.^[5] Hydro power output is expected to decrease as climate change projections suggest that water flow will be reduced from the year 2030 and onward, which will eventually cause energy supply problems.^[5] In regards to energy infrastructure, higher temperatures and extreme weather events may cause significant damages.^[5]

Shifts in ecological zones may cause higher states of plant vulnerability and the inability for certain plant species to adapt to new climate conditions, thus creating the possibility of losing forest resources, such as firewood, fruits, and medicinal herbs.^[5] The walnut forest in Arslanbob allows Kyrgyzstan to be one of the world's largest walnut exporters, but farmers predict that walnut yields may fall up to 70 percent in 2018 due to climate change and soil erosion.^[14]

As Kyrgyzstan is situated in a mountainous region, the country is vulnerable to climate-related risks, such as floods, landslides, avalanches, snowstorms, GLOFs, etc.^[5] Climate change is expected to worsen the disasters in action and in damages.^[5] There has been an increased amount of floods and mudslides as, compared to the volume of glaciers in 1960, the volume has reduced by 18 percent in 2000.^[15] In 2012, from 23 April to the 29th, destructive flash floods affected more than 9,400 people in the Osh, Jalalabad, and Batken regions.^[16][17]

Impact of Climate Change to Air Pollution

Atmospheric pollution in Bishkek has become one of the most significant environmental threats in Kyrgyzstan. Even with the absence of large-scale industrial pollution, Bishkek is at the top of world rankings for air pollution.^[18] For example, in November 2019, according to “Empowering the World to Breathe Cleaner Air”,^[19] Bishkek was ranked as having the worst air quality worldwide. According to the World Air Quality Index (AQI), as of January 14, 2020, Bishkek ranked ninth in the world for air pollution with an AQI indicator of 179.^[20]

In the study conducted by,^[18] noteworthy findings were reported. The researchers observed a substantial rise in the average annual temperature in Bishkek over a span of 40 years. This increase was linked to the emergence of heat islands, and its impact was manifested in an elevated occurrence of days featuring inversions in atmospheric temperature. Remarkably, a significant proportion—approximately 80% to 90%—of these temperature inversion days coincided with heating seasons and instances of excessive PDK levels.

During a period of lockdown, notable changes were observed in the concentrations of various pollutants. Specifically, compared to pollutant concentrations documented in 2019, there was a reduction of 64% in CO levels, 1.5% in NO levels, 75% in NO2 levels, 24% in SO2 levels, and 54% in PM2.5 levels.^[18] These findings underscore the influential role of motor vehicle emissions in shaping air quality.

The research also revealed an upsurge in synoptic processes conducive to the formation of temperature inversion layers. Notably, the presence of anticyclones and their peripheries played a pivotal role, accounting for nearly 50% of all temperature inversion occurrences. Additionally, the occurrence of low gradient fields of high pressure was identified as a characteristic condition fostering the development of these temperature inversion phenomena.^[18]

Kyrgyzstan's geography includes 80 percent of the country being found within the Tian Shan mountain chain, and 4 percent of that is area that is permanently under ice and snow.^[5] More than 8,500 glaciers are in proximal distance to Kyrgyzstan and research has shown that glacier mass has reduced sharply within the past 50 years.^[5]

An indicator of atmospheric warming is the amount of glacier mass lost.^[21] Glacier monitoring was performed on the majority of the glaciers of the Tian Shan mountain chain by the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), however operations have largely ceased to exist after its collapse in the early 1990s.^[22] As of recently, there has been a re-establishment of glacier monitoring sites in Kyrgyzstan with the Abramov glacier, Golubin glacier, Batysh Sook glacier, and Glacier No. 345.^[21] Observations and research over the last five decades show that, overall, the Central Asian glaciers portray more mass loss than mass gain.^[21] From 2000 to 2100, glacial areas are expected to be reduced between 64 and 95 percent.^[15]

Detailed studies showed a significant decrease of the total glacier area in the up‐stream Naryn area by 21.3% (1965 to 2010), due to increasing summer temperatures and decreasing precipitation. The largest glacier shrinkage occurred in the Naryn range (28.9%) because of the dominance of small‐scale glaciers on north‐facing slopes. Continuing glacier shrinkage will result in water and energy deficiencies in the region. Strong glacier retreat can also produce glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), which may cause hazards in downstream areas. The state of these glaciers needs to be monitored scientifically for a sustainable use of regional water resources, and for the economic planning.^[23]

In 2013 and 2014, the energy sector received the largest amount of climate-related development finance.^[15] Rehabilitation projects include: the at Bashy Hydro Power Plant supported by Switzerland and the Toktogul Hydro Power Plant (Phase 2) supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Eurasian Development Bank.^[15]

There are five priorities in addressing emergency issues, such as natural disasters, within the adaption program of the Ministry of Emergency Situation:

1. Weather forecast and monitoring
2. Early warning technologies
3. Land zoning and construction norms
4. Weather-risk insurance
5. Infrastructure development, such as with dam safety.^[15]

Supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is the "International Main Roads Improvement Project," which seeks to apply disaster risk reduction measures, such as tunnel construction, and precautions against falling rocks and landslides.