An OSCE-supported technical meeting on rational use and protection of water resources of the Zhaiyk (Ural) River, including assessment of climate change on water resources, took place on 7 November 2019 in Oral, Western Kazakhstan.

The event was co-organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan and the International Water Assessment Centre.

Some twenty representatives from the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources, Western Kazakhstan regional administration, civil society, as well as water management officials from Kazakhstan and Russia discussed individual action plans developed for each country. They also examined joint activities on the rational use of the Zhayik River’s water resources.

OSCE-supported experts from Kazakhstan and Russia presented findings on measures both countries should carry out independently on their territories to mitigate the effects of climate change and identified joint areas of co-operation to ensure sustainable use of the Zhaiyk River. The reports will be submitted to the governmental Kazakhstan-Russia Commission on the Joint Use and Protection of Transboundary Water Resources of the Zhayik River for review and adoption.

The event is part of the OSCE Programme Office’s continuous efforts to contribute to the transboundary dialogue on water and raise awareness among the state institutions on the sustainable management of water resources.