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UCA on the Forefront of Education About Climate Change

Over the years, the University of Central Asia (UCA) has conducted research on how climate change has been impacting the development of mountain communities. Studies have revealed that the effects of climate change and human activities are deeply intertwined in the region of Central Asia.

Since its establishment in 2011, UCA’s Mountain Societies Research Institute has been at the forefront of scientific research to study complex earth surface and environmental processes in Central Asia. Considering the increasing impact of climate-related events on businesses worldwide and lack of scientific studies in this part of the world, UCA and the institutions of the Kyrgyz Government (Tien Shan High Mountain Scientific Centre of the Institute of Water Problems and Hydropower National Academy of Sciences, Agency on Hydrometeorology of the State Committee on Ecology and Climate, and the Ministry of Emergency Situations) came together on 12 November 2021 to sign three Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs).

The MoUs will deepen the collaboration between the parties to study crucial scientific questions in the fields of global warming and climate change, disaster risk reduction, air pollution/quality, glacier observation, water security, energy, sustainable development, and providing society with sound information for decision making through data integration, synthesis. scenario analysis, modelling, and other tools of development.

To educate the wider public about the effects of climate change within a specific region and propose solutions, UCA’s Cultural Heritage and Humanities Unit in collaboration with organisations under the umbrella of the Aga Khan Development Network – the Aga Khan University, the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat and the Aga Khan Foundation, have produced short documentaries giving voice to the nature and people living in the world’s highest mountains from the Himalayas to the Tian Shan. A number of young Asian filmmakers were trained, mentored and supported to produce ground-breaking environmental films.

One of the documentaries, The Flying Horse, directed by UCA’s Research Fellow, Aibek Baiymbetov, explores the value of horses to the traditional culture of Kyrgyzstan, and the danger posed by diminishing pastures and environmental issues.