He pointed to the work of the Institute of Water Problems and Hydropower, which is engaged in forecasting, including issues related to climate change.
“The main focus is on water resource issues and glacier reduction, as the water level directly depends on the area and volume of glaciers. These problems are being studied, and forecasts are being provided,” he noted.
According to him, the forecasts are generally bleak. If the average temperature on the planet has increased by 1.5 degrees due to global warming, in our region this figure is 2-3 degrees. If this trend continues, we can expect the disappearance of glaciers in 30 years, especially those smaller than 1 km².
In some places, glaciers will lose their length and volume. An effective way to preserve them has not yet been found. Some experts suggest covering the glaciers, but such ideas may be unrealistic.
In our country, there are about 6,000 glaciers, and funding for their protection is clearly insufficient. Nevertheless, we must prepare for the consequences now.
The issue of Issyk-Kul was also raised, and it is very relevant. The lake is not only shrinking in size but also suffering from severe pollution caused by human activities. Against this backdrop, the number of blue-green algae is increasing. Their growth is happening at a catastrophic pace. Meanwhile, as far as I know, wastewater treatment facilities are functioning only in Cholpon-Ata and Balakchy, while most villages do not have them. All this dirt ends up in Issyk-Kul.
Issyk-Kul is a closed lake. Previously, about 88 rivers flowed into it, but now only 35 do. And no river flows out of it. Everything that enters the lake is either deposited or processed.
If this situation continues, in a few decades we may face a terrible reality: the lake will become foul-smelling and unsuitable for swimming, and fish will disappear. It is said that it may dry up, but that is not entirely true. The structure of Issyk-Kul is unique: its depth reaches 700 meters, and it is like a large bowl. Nevertheless, its condition may become critical.
There is a concept of ecological capacity. When people say, “Last year there were 3 million tourists — that’s wonderful!” it’s worth considering how many Issyk-Kul can actually sustain? Three million or ten? It is important to know this in order to timely stop the increase in load.
We understand the necessity of earning for people and its contribution to the budget, but Issyk-Kul is Issyk-Kul. For example, tourist reception could be stopped at the end of August. But this is not happening: instead, there are proposals to develop winter sports.
I support such initiatives, but they must be based on important indicators: ecological capacity, the presence of treatment facilities, water purification systems, and, ultimately, the availability of water itself.
I was born on Issyk-Kul, in Kadzhi-Sai. I remember how, as a child, I crossed full-flowing rivers — they were huge. Now, many of them have disappeared, as the glaciers that fed them have lost their strength. There used to be a real river in Kyzyl-Suu, but now barely anything moves there.
This is a serious problem that requires government intervention. A clear program is needed. In our biosphere zone of Issyk-Kul, only five people are officially working.
Previously, it was prohibited to park cars by the water in the biosphere area, but now, especially on the southern side, temporary guesthouses are being built. They say this is temporary, but they are building 30 houses. And what is happening with the waste?
The law on the biosphere territory, in my opinion, is not being enforced. Without strict government control, this chaos will continue. It should not be the case that everything starts functioning only when a “general” appears.
The system must work smoothly. Like well-tuned clocks — large and small mechanisms must interact. That is the system,” he concluded.
