Blog // Harnessing Glacier Science for Resilient Water, Energy, and Food Systems in Central Asia

This article was submitted to the Nexus Resource Platform on 08.10.2025. It was originally written by Zafar Gafurov, Iskandar Abdullaev, Bunyod Holmatov, Shavkat Kenjabaev and Umirzakov Gulomjon.

Glaciers at the Heart of Central Asia’s Water Security 

Glaciers are more than frozen landscapes, they are lifelines for millions of people across Central  Asia. Acting as natural reservoirs, they sustain river flows during dry summer months, support  irrigation in vast agricultural plains, feed hydropower plants, and help preserve ecosystems. Yet,  accelerating climate change is reshaping these critical resources. Glacier retreat, increased risks of  glacier lake outburst floods, and seasonal shifts in water availability are adding stress to already  fragile systems of agriculture, energy, and livelihoods. The importance of glaciers was underscored  at the High-level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation, held in May 2025 in  Dushanbe, Tajikistan, where it was also announced that March 21 will be observed annually as the  World Day for Glaciers, beginning in 2025. 

Building on these pressing challenges, an international conference on “Innovative Methods for Monitoring Mountain Glaciers in the Context of Climate Change and Current Challenges of Glaciology” was convened in Tashkent on September 16, 2025 by Hydrometeorological scientific research institute. Co-organized by IWMI under its ongoing projects, as well as other institutions, the event brought together scientists, practitioners, and policymakers from across the region and beyond. The discussions placed glacier science demonstrating the cross-sectoral importance of glaciers for food systems, energy generation, and environmental sustainability, and calling for the systematic integration of cryosphere data into adaptive policy and planning.

A Platform for Science, Policy, and Practice 

The conference featured keynote talks, technical sessions, and panel discussions with participants  from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and international organizations.  Presentations showcased cutting-edge tools such as remote sensing algorithms, glacier mass  balance studies, and digital platforms.

A strong emphasis was placed on bridging the gap between scientific research and decisionmaking. As highlighted in the panel on “Integration of Scientific Data into Decision-Making  Processes in the Regional Context”, evidence-based approaches are vital for improving drought  preparedness, ensuring equitable transboundary water allocation, and enhancing climate resilience. 

The event also connected ongoing regional initiatives, including WE-ACT, Hydro4U, the World  Bank Drought Management Project, and Nexus Policy Innovations. Each offered unique  perspectives on how glacier-informed data can shape policies that are both adaptive and forwardlooking. 

Key Themes Emerging from Discussions 

1. Monitoring Glaciers as Engines of Knowledge 

Technical sessions underscored the value of continuous glacier monitoring. Presenters from  Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan highlighted methods ranging from satellite-based mass  balance analysis to ground-based cryospheric surveys. Such approaches are not only advancing  scientific understanding but also generating actionable insights for river basin planning. 

For Uzbekistan, where glacier-fed rivers are vital, these studies provide the foundation for  irrigation norms, reservoir operation, and hydropower scheduling. The takeaway was clear that  without systematic glacier data, water security planning remains incomplete. 

2. Data Integration for Smarter Decisions 

Several sessions stressed the importance of data integration, linking glaciers and snow monitoring  with broader hydrological and socio-economic datasets. Integrating such data streams into userfriendly platforms ensures that policymakers, water managers, and local communities can access  timely, relevant information. Participants agreed that this requires stronger cooperation across  hydromet agencies, research institutes, and development partners. 

3. Policy Innovations through the Nexus Lens 

Through its convened sessions on policy innovation and data integration, IWMI and its partners  highlighted how projects are translating scientific data into practical tools for balancing trade-offs  in energy, agriculture, water allocation, and drought resilience.” 

• Hydropower schemes can be designed with glacier-fed flow variability in mind, ensuring  both energy security and ecological flow maintenance.
• Irrigation modernization can be guided by seasonal runoff predictions, improving water  productivity while safeguarding downstream ecosystems.
• Transboundary dialogues can incorporate glacier retreat scenarios, aligning water-sharing  agreements with long-term climate realities. 

This integrated perspective ensures that policies move beyond short-term fixes and instead foster  resilience, cooperation, and equitable benefit sharing.

The Third Session is devoted to the Science-to-Policy Integration 

A special highlight of the conference was the discussion session in the third block, where participants reflected on three guiding questions. 

1. How can real-time glacier and snow data (e.g., MODSNOW, WGMS) be systematically incorporated into regional water-allocation and drought-management policies? Discussants noted importance of the incorporation of near-real-time monitoring data into water allocation systems. This will help to reduce delays in forecasting and support adaptive reservoir operations. Establishing regional data-sharing protocols and embedding glacier indicators into drought management frameworks emerged as practical steps forward.
2. What mechanisms can reconcile trade-offs identified in Nexus approaches such as hydropower versus irrigation? The group highlighted that competing benefits should not be viewed as zero-sum. Instead, basin-level modeling and scenario analysis can reveal options for staggered operations, joint infrastructure management, and benefit-sharing agreements. Policy frameworks must account for both upstream energy needs and downstream food security to avoid future tensions.
3. What institutional or technical capacities are most urgently needed among ministries and river-basin agencies? Participants emphasized the importance of training in remote sensing, hydro-informatics, and decision-support modeling. Beyond technical skills, institutional reforms are needed to ensure that cryosphere and hydrological datasets are not just collected but also translated into policies and operational decisions. 

These questions underscored that moving from data to decisions requires not only scientific solutions but also strong governance frameworks and collaboration across different sectors and region. 

Linking Glaciers to Regional Cooperation 

One of the most notable outcomes of the conference was the consensus that glacier monitoring is not just a scientific pursuit but a diplomatic tool. Shared glacier data, if systematically collected and transparently exchanged, can form the backbone of trust in transboundary water governance. 

Examples from IWMI’s Nexus Gains initiative and the WE-ACT project show that when data is co-developed and shared, it strengthens negotiation capacity among riparian states. By embedding glacier knowledge into regional agreements, Central Asia can better manage variability and uncertainty in water supply, reducing potential sources of conflict. 

Within scope of the IWMI’s Drought project, funded by World Bank, looks into improving data and information exchange as one of the main pillars of the improving of on drought preparedness in Central Asia.

Conclusion: Glaciers as a Compass for Nexus Governance 

Glaciers may appear distant and immovable, but their retreat is reshaping the very fabric of life in Central Asia. By integrating glacier studies into the Nexus framework, we gain a more holistic compass for navigating climate change, resource competition, and regional cooperation. 

The conference in Tashkent reaffirmed that science, when paired with innovation and political will, can transform vulnerabilities into opportunities. As noted during discussion that “Every glacier we monitor is not just data, it is a signal guiding us towards smarter, more resilient policies.” 

Moving forward, IWMI and its partners remain committed to advancing evidence-based solutions that link science with sustainable water, energy, food, and ecosystem management. Only by bridging these domains can Central Asia secure a resilient future in the face of its rapidly changing climate.