Webinar: Water Problems in the Context of Globalization
On January 25, 2022, the International Green Technologies and Investment Projects Center organized a webinar, where the main topic revolved around the modernization of ways to solve water resources problems in Kazakhstan. More than 100 representatives of state bodies, as well as representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations, businesses and industries took part in the discussion.
Thus, welcoming the participants of the webinar, the head of the STD/STC office and the Green Bridge Institute, as well as the moderator of the meeting Gulbazar Medieva noted the special relevance of the topic. According to her, the changing state of water resources has a cascading effect on the economy, ecosystems and all aspects of everyday life of people around the world.
In turn, Deputy of the Majilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan of the 7th convocation Eldos Abakanov noted that the streamlining of water policy is a big task facing our country. According to him, out of 8 water basins of our country, 7 are transboundary, as a result of which our country significantly depends on the water management policy of neighboring countries.
Senior Water Resources Management Specialist Colin Herron (Stockholm, Sweden) spoke about water solutions for the SDGs in the Global Water Partnership. The speaker spoke about the availability and quantity of fresh water at the global level, drawing attention to the unevenness, instability in the consumption of water resources by countries of the world, which are primarily associated with agriculture, sanitation and production.
"Meeting the needs of the growing population of the planet in water is a key issue that leads precisely to sustainable development in all its dimensions. To do this, first of all, it is necessary to solve the problem of water-intensive technologies," said Saule Shalmaganbetova, Head of the Water Resources Management Department of the Water Resources Committee of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.
According to her, Kazakhstan depends on water resources, which is especially noticeable in the southern and western regions, where half of the country's population lives, whose living conditions are directly related to water supply.
Bulat Yessekin, an international expert on water resources management and climate change, coordinator of the Central Asian Platform on Water Resources, shared the main climate change adaptation indicators in the water sector.
"Through water, there is an impact on human health, soil condition, agriculture and forestry, energy. Evaporation and condensation, global hydrological cycles are the most important regulators of global temperature and climate. Therefore, water is a priority sector for adaptation," he said.
Nariman Kipshakbayev, Director of the Kazakh branch of the SIC ICWC, Chairman of the Water Partnership of Kazakhstan, spoke about the main problems of water resources in Kazakhstan. The speaker presented concrete solutions and proposals for regulating this industry.
At the same time, Nurlan Mukhambetkaliyev, an external expert on the development strategy of the West Kazakhstan Region, coordinator of the working group on solving problems of the Zhaiyk-Ural River, spoke about the existing problems of transboundary rivers on the example of the Zhaiyk-Ural River.
The webinar was completed by researcher at Lund University, Atyrau University, KazNTU named after K. I. Satpayev, expert in the field of WASH and system analysis /dynamics, IWRM Kamshat Tussupova. In her speech, she spoke in detail about the key interrelations of science-policy-practice nexus to improve water security in Kazakhstan.
As a result, the participants noted the real importance of the topics raised at the webinar, exchanged views, and received exhaustive answers from the speakers.
It is worth noting that the second part of the webinar will take place on January 26, at which the speakers will also discuss issues on solving key problems in the field of water resources. In particular, the event will cover the following topics:
- "Topical issues of monitoring the state of treatment facilities of the Republic of Kazakhstan";
- Problems of personnel training for water management;
- The relationship of science-policy-practice to improve water security in Kazakhstan;
- Scientifically-based pricing of surface runoff resources as an element of effective water resources management in the Republic of Kazakhstan.