From monitoring to resilience: Cryosphere information services in Central Asia

The cryosphere plays a vital role in Central Asia for communities, economies, and ecosystems, but the effects of climate change – melting glaciers, declining snow cover, and thawing permafrost – are increasing the risks to infrastructure, energy production, water supply, economic activities, and livelihoods. Reliable cryosphere information services are essential for informed decision-making and long-term resilience planning; and strengthening the links between monitoring systems and the decision-making and learning processes of service users is key to building a more resilient future for the region.

This booklet offers an overview of key cryosphere dynamics and future scenarios, explains how cryosphere data can be transformed into actionable information for decision-making, and showcases the results of Switzerland’s 15-year engagement in supporting cryosphere monitoring, capacity building, and science-policy dialogue in Central Asia.