Climate change and global warming have become the greatest threat of the 21st century which have alarming consequences for every state in the world. States are feeling scarcity of resources, such as energy, water or arable land, due to climate change. It has become increasingly clear that climate change will lead to flooding, disease and famine, drought and crop-failure, leading to intensified competition for food, water and energy in regions where resources are already stretched to the limit. Climate change can lead to economic disruption in the whole world that has not seen since the end of the Second World War.
The Bulan Institute aims work to tackle the climate change consequences in Central Asia. The five Central Asian states depend heavily on extractive industries, most notably coal, oil and gas. Expected climate change stressors in Central Asia include increases in temperature, extreme weather events, and glacial melt, while likely impacts include continued expansion of deserts and arid areas. The climate change and global warming increases vulnerability of impoverished and rural areas, which largely lack the financial or political capacity to overcome these growing challenges. Additionally, changes in climate will likely affect local and regional economies, as overexploitation and lack of resources are projected to impact key industries such as agriculture, energy, and other water-dependent activities. The countries of Central Asia should establish appropriate policies to address the effects of climate change and integrate climate change considerations and actions. However, civil society organizations also should play an important role in tackling the climate change and global warming.