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- Convenors:
-
Kubatbek Muktarbek uulu
(Kyrgys State Technical University)
Cholponbek Ormukov
Mairambek Nurgaziev (American University of Central Asia)
Bahtiyor Eshchanov (University of Digital Economics and Agrotechnologies)
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- Chair:
-
Aida Aidarova
(American University of Central Asia)
- Format:
- Panel
- Theme:
- Public Administration & Public Policy
Abstract:
Central Asia is undergoing significant transformations in the realms of energy, transportation, climate change, and agriculture. In view of this, the panel looks into such changes through extensive research and study in the region that impacts largely on public policy and economic governance in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. It explores the economic feasibility of solar PV technologies in Uzbekistan, the implementation, challenges, and benefits of bus lanes in Central Asian Road networks, the impact of climate change on glaciers and high-mountain lakes in the Kyrgyz Tien Shan region, and the role of organic farming in mitigating climate change effects in Kyrgyzstan.
Research in focus delve into the potential of solar energy as a cost-effective renewable source, analyzing three solar technologies and their Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) metrics. Insights are drawn on the introduction of bus lanes for public transport, considering international best practices to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance urban mobility in Central Asia. Another study also highlights the vulnerability of Tien Shan glaciers and high-mountain lakes to climate change, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable water resource management strategies in the region while another research examines the ecological benefits of organic farming in Kyrgyzstan as a means to reduce environmental impacts and promote biodiversity conservation. By comparing organic and non-organic farming systems, the study advocates for the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices to mitigate climate change effects and ensure long-term ecological resilience.
Overall, the panel provides a holistic perspective on the interplay between renewable energy, transportation innovation, climate change adaptation, and sustainable agriculture in Central Asia. The findings underscore the importance of embracing eco-friendly solutions and collaborative efforts to address the region's environmental challenges and foster a more sustainable future.
Accepted papers:
Abstract:
The designated bus lanes for the Public Transport in Bishkek were first introduced in July 2023. Such government measure intended to relieve traffic congestion especially during rush hours, has worsened the traffic conditions, instead. It has caused huge traffic stagnation problems across the city and led to ambiguous and conflicting opinions among the scientific community, the population, and especially the motorists and drivers.
My paper examines the weaknesses of the current measure the Kyrgyz government has taken and explores its potential strengths and adaptive strategies to make such government intervention work better for the public good. It is be based on my ongoing study on how designating bus lanes in Bishkek can be effective in facilitating traffic flow, using a comparative case study in Bishkek and Berlin. The study has observed that Bishkek needs to implement additional measures or strategies to complement the designated bus lanes. These measures can include but not limited to customized scheduling of bus lane usage, tailored to the specific needs and requests of individual roads. Notably, the schedule for bus lane usage varies for opposite directions on the same street, and each street has its own lane-usage schedule. They should take into consideration how these bus lanes work during weekends. Moreover, depending on the circumstances, other types of road users, such as emergency services and cyclists, should be allowed to use the lane.
The study proposes that these adaptive approaches among others suggests thoughtful ways of optimizing road efficiency and safety which will contribute to reducing traffic congestion and in turn reduces harmful emissions and improves the city's air quality. This experience can indeed be helpful not only in Bishkek but also be in other large cities of Central Asia, that have insufficient knowledge and experience of designated public transport lane policy implementation. Subsequent study of road network experiences in Central Asian cities can also strengthen cooperation in the field of organization and safety of urban traffic and the achievement of joint goals in improving the environmental situation caused by road transport.
Abstract:
Considering the current growth trend of an increase in the share of renewable energy in the total energy supply, it is anticipated that the share of renewables in primary energy consumption to reach 40% by 2030. The most ubiquitous and thrifty type of renewable source is solar energy. Solar technologies around the globe are achieving auspicious results by yielding more and more energy over time due to technological advancements.
The Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) is a metric used to determine the average cost of producing electricity over the lifetime of a power plant. LCOE takes into account the total capital costs, operating costs, and the amount of electricity generated over the lifespan of the plant. In recent years, LCOE has become an important metric for comparing the cost-effectiveness of different sources of energy, including renewable energy sources. The LCOE method is utilized to compare the projects with diverse cost systems. It represents the cost of electricity produced over the lifetime of the project.
The current paper compares the utility-scale deployment of three solar energy technologies: a. fixed solar PV plant, b. solar-PV plant with the single-axis solar tracker, and c. Solar Stirling Dish Systems - concentrated solar power technology. Market prices are obtained from the project documents for the fixed solar PV and solar PV with solar trackers, while quotation prices of the suppliers are used for the Solar Stirling Dish Systems.
The result of the current study contributes to answering the question of whether Uzbekistan can benefit from technological leapfrogging or not.
Abstract:
Kyrgyzstan is located in Central Asia, and its main industry relies on agriculture, with a huge area of farm lands. Agricultural lands (irrigated arable land, desert pastures and livestock) of the Kyrgyz Republic and their current ecological state in recent years reflect environmental degradation and climate change. Since the organic farming system has been encouraged to reduce environmental impacts, many studies have been conducted. To reduce the environmental impacts in Kyrgyzstan, the current farm land use should be converted to the organic farming system. In addition, to conserve endangered species inhabit in Kyrgyzstan, the soil condition should be considered. The main objective is to understand what is the advantage of organic farming system in Kyrgyzstan, compared with non-organic farming system, and how it can be considered by both consumers and producers, and encouraged by the government, in terms of impacts on ecological environment, with the premise that organic farming system should be advantageous to reduce the climate impacts.
Abstract:
The Tien Shan glaciers are freshwater reservoirs in the Central Asian region, providing water to millions of residents in the region. Demand for water resources in Central Asia is growing rapidly as the region's population has doubled over the past 35 years. According to the census, the population of the USSR in 1989 was about 44 million people living in Central Asia and Kazakhstan. Data for 2022 shows that the region is home to more than 80 million people. Annual population growth and intensive deglaciation in this region are increasing the unprecedented demand for water resources. Thus, the role of glaciers in providing water to the population of Kyrgyzstan is colossal, since the share of glacial waters averages 35-40%. Due to changes in temperature and precipitation, glaciers are retreating, losing several million cubic meters of water annually. If previously the glacier tongues were located at an average altitude of 3600 m, now this level has risen to a height of 3800 m. The total area of glaciers in the Kyrgyz Tien Shan is currently about 7000 km2. It is clear that glaciers are melting rapidly with climate change, but the role of extremely hot weather conditions in glacier melting has not yet been studied in detail and the role of this type of weather has not been assessed. The extremely hot climate also greatly influences the intensity of the formation of high-mountain lakes that are prone to erosion. Thus, our research shows the features of glacier reduction taking into account climatic anomalies. The peculiarity of such climatic conditions is often reflected in the manifestation of an increase in the flow of rivers and outburst-prone lakes. Our research is aimed at determining the characteristics of the reduction of Tien Shan glaciers in order to better understand the characteristics of climate change against the backdrop of extreme weather conditions in Central Asia, in particular in Kyrgyzstan.