World Bank Document

62. 

Since Uzbekistan, like all countries in Central Asia, is highly vulnerable to climate 

change, increasing resilience is an important consideration in all WBG interventions. Higher 

temperatures, greater variability in precipitation, and increased frequency of extreme weather 

events is increasing pressure on water, land, biodiversity, and ecosystems. WBG activities for 

increased climate resilience would focus on three areas. First, support to agriculture would aim to 

increase resilience by diversification to less water-intensive crops, introduction of water saving 

techniques, and modernization of irrigation systems. Second, all infrastructure investments would 

be screened both in terms of physical resilience to likely climate change and of economic returns 

if climate change considerations were fully costed. Finally, the WBG would continue to promote 

collection of better data on climate change and water flows in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya basins 

and support increased consultation by riparians to manage water resources for mutual benefit.   

 

C.