Today, the Economic Research Institute hosted a seminar titled “Extreme Weather Events and Household Vulnerability in Central Asia.” The keynote speaker was Dina Azhgaliyeva, Senior Economist for Climate Change at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), who holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Essex (United Kingdom).
During the seminar, the expert presented the findings of a study examining the impact of extreme weather events on household well-being across five Central Asian countries. The analysis was based on household panel survey data and covered the effects of droughts, heavy precipitation, heatwaves, and severe winters.
According to the study’s findings, droughts, heavy precipitation, and severe winters lead to reductions in household income. Severe winters also increase the risk of food insecurity, while heatwaves have a particularly significant impact on low-income households. Additional risks arise from declining agricultural income and rising food prices.
Dina Azhgaliyeva previously worked at the Asian Development Bank Institute in Japan, the National University of Singapore, the University of Reading, and the Ministry of Finance of Kazakhstan. Her research focuses on climate change, carbon emissions, and sustainable economic development.
The seminar provided an opportunity to explore research findings on climate-related risks and their socioeconomic consequences for Central Asian countries.
