Kazakhstan Proposes UN-Backed Global Water Body to Fight Climate Crisis

Dr. Michal Kravčík, a Goldman Environmental Prize winner, has praised Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s proposal for a UN-backed international water organisation. Kravčík called the idea a timely response to growing climate and water challenges worldwide. He noted that no centralised UN body currently focuses solely on water issues. Kravčík explained the New Water Paradigm, which centres on reviving small water cycles. He stressed that rainfall depends heavily on evaporation from land, not just oceans. Neglecting these cycles, he warned, could lead to extended droughts across regions.

The proposals aim to tackle water and climate security in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. They include pilot projects to keep water in soil and preserve rainfall in different river basins. A working group would also be formed to put the New Water Paradigm into action, starting with restoring small water cycles in Kazakhstan.

Earlier, Kazakhstan’s Water Minister, Nurzhan Nurzhanov, held talks with experts on implementing these recommendations. Kravčík added that the new organisation could improve cross-border water cooperation, share knowledge, and push for changes in water laws at national and international levels. The proposed body would fill a gap in global water governance. Its work could strengthen water security in Central Asia and beyond. The focus on small water cycles and practical projects offers a concrete way forward.