3주차|식량·물·글로벌 생존 이슈_심보미

[심보미]

Opening Remarks at the Rome Water Dialogue: Impactful Water Solutions

Speaker: H.E Bakyt Torobaev, 키르기스스탄 내각 부의장 겸 수자원, 농업 및 가공 산업부 장관
Date: 14 October 2025

Venue: Plenary Hall, FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy

Word Count: 433

https://www.fao.org/events/detail/rome-water-dialogue-2025/en

Glossary
1. Kyrgyzstan / Kyrgyz Republic 키르기스스탄 / 키르기스 공화국
2. “Green Heritage” (음차) or 녹색 유산 (국가 프로그램명, 원어: “Zhashyl Muras”)
3. Lake Issyk-Kul 이식쿨 호수

Script
Water resources are a strategic natural asset — the foundation of socio-economic development, food and energy security, and the protection of ecosystems. Water is the basis of human life, national health, and both economic and social stability.
Today, in the countries of Central Asia, including Kyrgyzstan, one of the most acute and strategically important challenges is the preservation and rational use of water resources. At the same time, sustainable and effective water management has become one of the most serious challenges of our time, as climate change poses an undeniable threat to sustainable development, the economy, the environment, and public health.
Today, I would like to highlight several key challenges we are facing. Millions of people are suffering from water scarcity, and competition for water resources is intensifying day by day. In such a situation, water may become not only a source of life but also a potential source of tension. Therefore, the water issue is not merely an environmental problem.
Climate change and population growth are rapidly reducing freshwater reserves, and it is projected that by 2050, 50% of the world’s population will suffer from water shortages. According to experts, if global warming continues at the current rate, by the middle of this century half of the world’s glaciers may disappear. The melting of glaciers will reduce river flow, intensify droughts, and pose a direct threat to food security. Therefore, the preservation of glaciers should be a priority not only at the national but also at the regional and global levels.
In accordance with the national program “Green Heritage”, initiated by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, efforts are being made to protect mountain ecosystems and ensure climate resilience. Within this campaign, special attention is given to the preservation of mountains, glaciers, and rivers as part of the national heritage.
These initiatives must be strengthened and supported at the regional level, since rivers originating in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan supply water not only to our country but also to neighboring states.
In addition to glaciers and river systems, there is another important issue — the condition of our national treasure, Lake Issyk-Kul. Rising temperatures and declining precipitation have already begun to negatively affect the water level and ecosystem of the lake. Whereas previously 101 rivers flowed into Issyk-Kul, today only 56 continue to do so. This is an alarming sign and clear evidence of the serious consequences of climate change.
Issyk-Kul is not only the pride of Kyrgyzstan but also a vital regional resource that regulates climate and maintains the water balance of the region. Preserving its purity and sustainability is our common responsibility.