Water, Energy, and Justice in a Changing Climate: Transboundary Challenges in the Syr Darya Basin

Eugénie Stoclet, Free University of Brussels (Belgium)

Climate change is intensifying water justice challenges in transboundary basins, where historical inequalities, competing national interests, and weak institutional frameworks already strain cooperation. In the Syr Darya River Basin, Central Asia, upstream hydropower needs and downstream irrigation demands create persistent tensions over water allocation—tensions that are exacerbated by growing climatic variability. These dynamics raise urgent questions of fairness, voice, and access: who decides, who benefits, and who bears the risks when water becomes scarce? This presentation explores how climate stress intersects with power asymmetries to deepen contestation over shared resources. It argues for power-sensitive and conflict-sensitive approaches to building resilience in the water sector—approaches that recognize historical grievances and prioritize inclusive, just cooperation. Drawing on a case study of Kyrgyzstan, based on qualitative interviews with water and environmental actors, the presentation illustrates how justice-centered governance can support more adaptive and peaceful transboundary water management in a changing climate.