The document discusses the need for collaboration across sectors and regions to address the energy-water-land nexus in Central Asia. It notes that by 2050, there is estimated to be a 37% gap in water supply and demand under current practices. Climate change will increase uncertainty around water availability both between and within seasons. Regional energy trading and renewables will also impact water availability. The Asian Development Bank's technical assistance aims to develop the CAREC Water Pillar to build capacity and facilitate dialogue and joint initiatives around integrated water-energy planning, shared water infrastructure, and applied research. The vision is for a sustainable, climate-resilient and water-secure region with shared benefits.

1. High-Level Policy Dialogue on Energy-Water-Land
Nexus in Central Asia
Hyatt Regency Tashkent, 15 October 2021
ADB approach to tackling the energy, water, land use nexus transformation
Enrico Pinali
Deputy Country Director, Uzbekistan Resident Mission,
Central and West Asia Department
Asian Development Bank

2. The case for collaboration – across sectors and region
regional
ADB TA 9977-REG: CAREC – Developing the Water Pillar
 37% estimated gap in water supply / demand by 2050 under business as usual
 Water resources are already fully allocated with shortages in dry years – involves choices and requires
cooperation for making water and land more productive (water-land-food-energy-climate nexus)
 Climate change will bring greater uncertainty and variability ‘between years’ and
‘within seasons’
 Extremes of flood and drought will increase – requires responsive planning, forecasting and
management systems based on up to date information (water-food-climate nexus)
 Regional energy trading will expand and the share of renewables to grow significantly
 As hydropower is used to back up intermittent solar and wind power, downstream river flows will be
subject to greater fluctuations requiring mitigation (water-energy-climate-environment nexus)
 The land and water environment will come under increasing pressure from
salinization and water shortage
 More dialogue is needed to make the case for environmental allocations of water (water-land-food-
environment nexus)

3. Role of the CAREC Water Pillar
ADB TA 9977-REG: CAREC – Developing the Water Pillar
 Initial focus is on Aral Sea Basin region – later expansion to broader CAREC membership
 Builds on existing initiatives of inter-governmental organizations, bilateral agreements, and development partners
 Provides investment support, joint knowledge generation, dialogue platform, facilitator of capacity development
Vision: ‘a sustainable, climate
resilient, productive and water
secure region with shared
benefits among States and
communities.’
Integrated water-
energy planning
models
Co-ownership of
multipurpose water
infrastructure
Build capacity for
training and
applied research