17 Feb 2026

The British-Kazakh Society hosted a high-level webinar examining the accelerating retreat of Kazakhstan’s Tien Shan glaciers and the implications for national and regional water security. These glaciers are a vital source of freshwater for agriculture, industry and particularly for Almaty’s drinking water supply.

An international panel of experts outlined current scientific findings, highlighting measurable glacier retreat and projected future scenarios if climate trends continue. The discussion emphasised the risks to irrigation systems, urban water supply and broader environmental stability.

The webinar also introduced a new BKS initiative launching in July 2026: scientific expeditions for young Kazakh citizens. The first expedition will bring university students onto the glaciers to assist researchers, contributing to fieldwork while raising public awareness of climate challenges.

Speakers outlined preparations for the expedition and discussed its alignment with broader environmental engagement efforts, including participation in the 2026 Astana Ecological Summit.

The event reinforced the importance of collaboration between science, education and civil society in addressing the consequences of glacier retreat in Kazakhstan.

Welcome: David Hardy, Director, British-Kazakh Society

Moderator: Prof. Chokan Laumulin, Kazakh British Technical University, Kazakhstan & Vice Chair, The UNECE Committee on Sustainable Energy, Geneva, Switzerland

Panellists:
Dr. Temur Yunusov, Research Affiliate, Cambridge Central Asia Forum, Jesus College, University of Cambridge, UK – Climate change and global and regional consequences
Prof. Maria Shahgedanova, Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, UK – Tien Shan’s cryosphere, glacier change and climate-glacier interactions
Dr. Alexander Yegorov, Central Asian Regional Glaciological Centre (CARGC), Almaty, Kazakhstan – Research on Melting of Almaty’s glaciers
Vasiliy Kapitsa, CARGC, Almaty, Kazakhstan – CARGC’s activity
Indira Weaver, BKS – The expedition goals, preparations and organisation