BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 2. A further reduction in river flow to 99.4 cubic kilometers is predicted in Kazakhstan by 2030, Kazakh Vice Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources Serik Kozhaniyazov said, Trend reports citing Kazakh media.
“The whole world today is facing challenges related to global climate change. For Kazakhstan, in conditions of high dependence on transboundary flows and uneven distribution of water resources in the country, global warming, first of all, could lead to a shortage of water resources. The long-term dynamics of river runoff demonstrates a reduction in water resources due to a decrease in local and transboundary inflow. If in 2000 the average long-term river runoff was 120 cubic kilometers, now it is about 102 cubic kilometers,” he said.
Kozhaniyazov said that this is primarily due to climate change and anthropogenic factors. Due to rising temperatures, glaciers have been degrading for half a century, so by 2030 a further reduction in river flow to 99.4 cubic kilometers is predicted.
“In the context of a decrease in water resources and an increase in withdrawal for the needs of the population, the economy and the environment, the shortage of water resources in Kazakhstan by 2030 may amount to 23 cubic kilometers, which is comparable to the annual consumption of the population and sectors of the economy,” Kozhaniyazov added.