Climate Disasters, Geopolitics, and Regional Resilience: The European Union’s Role in Central Asia

Abstract

This article examines the European Union’s (EU) engagement with Central Asia in the field of climate disaster management and environmental cooperation. Against the backdrop of intensifying climate risks like glacier melt, desertification, floods, and water scarcity, Central Asia has become a critical testing ground for regional resilience and global environmental governance. The EU has emerged as a constructive but constrained actor: its initiatives emphasize governance, capacity building, and multilateral dialogue rather than large-scale infrastructure financing. Drawing on a review of climate data, the EU policy frameworks, and comparative engagement by China and Russia, the study highlights how climate cooperation functions both as a pragmatic policy area and as a subtle geopolitical tool. While the EU faces significant challenges including limited financial leverage and authoritarian governance contexts, it retains a unique niche by promoting sustainable governance and transboundary cooperation. The findings suggest that climate disasters are not merely environmental challenges but also opportunities to strengthen EU-Central Asia partnerships. Policy recommendations are advanced for scaling up financing, deepening renewable energy cooperation, prioritizing transboundary water governance, and embedding climate security into the regional agenda.