Experts at the Samarkand Climate Forum warn central Asia is getting warmer year after year

Central Asia is getting warmer year after year, running out of water and, consequently, food, delegates at the Samarkand Climate Forum have been told.

The Climate Forum, a regular annual event, was a follow-up to the Central Asia-European Union Summit, which elevated the cooperation between the EU and Central Asia regions to the strategic level.

The participants were of the highest level: presidents of five Central Asian countries and the presidents of the European Council and European Commission.

Having already discussed cooperation and investment in green transition and water management in the previous event, the speakers focused on concrete projects of saving Central Asia from becoming a desert.

Opening the forum, the host, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, defined the problem Central Asia faces in very clear terms.

“Climate change is inextricably linked to food and energy security. Fertile lands are rapidly decreasing while the region’s population is growing, and in 25 years from now, it can surpass 100 million people. Today, over 20 percent of the land in the region is exposed to degradation. In a quarter of a century, crop yields may decrease by a third.”

However critical the threat, experts note that cooperation with the European Union and its long-running food safety and innovation programs increases the odds in the fight against the climate disaster.

“I believe it is vital for us to combine our scientific potential to increase the adaptation capacity of our forestry and agrarian sectors, as well as strengthen food security as part of the HORIZON EUROPE Program,” Uzbekistan's president said. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, said.

The leaders of the EU, President of the European Council Antonio Costa and the President of