The three components of the cryosphere –
glaciers, snow and permafrost – are all affected by climate change. Mountain communities face growing risks to infrastructure,
while downstream communities face disruptions in their water supply and risks of food
and energy insecurity as a consequence. In
Central Asia, the cryosphere-related changes in water resources will be strongest in the
second half of the century, as glaciers shrink
and the extent and duration of snow declines
considerably toward the end of the century
(IPCC 2014).
Temperature increases in Central Asia are
projected to exceed the global climate policy
target, and combined with cryosphere-related changes may seriously affect water and
other natural resources as well as weather-dependent sectors such as public health,
hydropower and agriculture. The socioeconomic implications of the projected climate
and cryosphere changes are not well understood, but lives and livelihoods clearly hang
in the balance, and the region needs to
strengthen its climate and glacier monitoring
and assessment and take diverse adaptation
measures to respond to the risks.