Kazakhstan Proposes UN Water International Organization

Kazakhstan has proposed the creation of a new international body under the United Nations, called the UN Water International Organization, to unify efforts on global water issues, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during the First Central Asia-Japan Dialogue Summit in Tokyo.

Tokayev emphasized that agriculture development is closely linked to water security, noting that Central Asia has already experienced a nearly 30% drop in per capita water availability over the past 20 years, The Caspian Post reports, citing Kazakh media.

He highlighted that about 70% of the region’s water resources are transboundary, raising concerns over shared management.

The Kazakh President expressed worry about the ongoing shallowing of the Caspian Sea and cited the ecological disaster of the Aral Sea as a tragic example of the irrational use of water resources. He underscored Kazakhstan’s appreciation for the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) support and expressed interest in strengthening cooperation, particularly in water sector automation and digitalization.

Tokayev suggested that a joint water management program could include the exchange of advanced water-saving technologies, collaborative scientific research, and cooperation in Earth remote sensing. He invited Japanese politicians, public figures, entrepreneurs, and experts to participate in the Regional Environmental Summit in Astana next April.