LocationsUNDP, in collaboration with Uzhydromet, held a forum dedicated to climate change issues and the establishment and development of Uzbekistan’s first National Framework for Hydrometeorological and Climate Services (NFCS). The event was attended by regional representatives of Uzhydromet and specialists from various ministries and agencies, consumers of climate services.
Uzbekistan Develops its First National Framework for Hydrometeorological and Climate Services
December 10, 2024
Image: UNDP
Uzbekistan is particularly vulnerable to climate change due to its geographical and climatic conditions. Over the past decade, extreme precipitation events have become more frequent, leading to destructive floods, while rising temperatures have caused severe droughts. These events not only threaten the country’s agricultural productivity, but also pose serious risks to infrastructure, and endanger public health. Developing the NFCS is a critical step toward sustainable development and protecting the population from the negative impacts of climate change.
In his opening remarks, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Mr. Anas Fayyad Qarman emphasized the importance of the NFCS, stating, that “the development of the National Framework for Climate Services is necessary for Uzbekistan to enhance its ability to deliver and utilize climate information for better decision-making across various sectors. It will help to provide tailored climate services for agriculture, water management, disaster risk reduction, and health, ensuring that they are better prepared to face the impacts of climate change.”
The NFCS is a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing resilience to climate change and natural phenomena by improving access to climate data, modernizing Uzhydromet’s infrastructure, and introducing innovative information-sharing methods. The framework offers recommendations for developing new technical and operational mechanisms to deliver climate data and services tailored to the needs of various economic sectors. Notably, the NFCS has been designed as a national, rather than a sector-specific, framework, that makes this document crucial for all economic sectors in Uzbekistan.
Image: UNDP
During the forum, international experts involved in the NFCS development presented the framework, shared global best practices, and offered recommendations on how these practices might be implemented in Uzbekistan. A prior roundtable event with representatives from ministries and agencies allowed participants to provide feedback on the draft NFCS and suggest improvements.
The NFCS is expected to serve as the foundation for future strategies and action plans in developing climate services in Uzbekistan. It will not only help mitigate the impacts of climate change but also unlock economic opportunities through the provision of tailored climate services.
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The project “Enhancing Multi-Hazard Early Warning System to increase resilience of Uzbekistan communities to climate change-induced hazards” is a joint effort of UNDP, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Uzhydromet, funded by the Green Climate Fund. The project is designed to ensure modernization of the country’s early warning system into an impact-based MHEWS with the focus on floods, mudflows, landslides, avalanches and hydrological drought in the more populous and economically important eastern mountainous regions of Ferghana Valley.
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