Natural disasters in Uzbekistan affect an average of 1.4 million people annually and cause almost US$ 3 billion worth of damage, the Ministry of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction said.

Recently, the ministry, together with the World Bank and the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC), held a round table entitled "Building resilience to climate change by strengthening responses to natural disasters."

Participants discussed the current state and progress in climate change adaptation planning, government plans to build resilience across all sectors, disaster risk preparedness and mitigation, and public investment in adaptation and response to natural disasters.

Climate change is projected to increase the risk of natural disasters, especially droughts, floods and landslides. It is estimated that a major flood could cost the economy about 5% of GDP, and a severe drought would have an equally severe economic impact.

Participants also explored opportunities and visions to build resilience to natural disasters and climate change through a comprehensive program of public investment and institutional reforms to reduce exposure to risk, mitigate physical impacts and protect people and public finances from the worst impacts of natural disasters.

“Forecasts of climate models, on the basis of which we build scenarios and projections of future changes, suggest that in the next century the temperature may rise by another 1.5 degrees or 3 degrees, depending on the situation, how it develops in our country. and what measures will be taken to mitigate, ”said Natalya Agaltseva, head of the department for preparation and implementation of projects of Uzhydromet.