LocationsAuthors: Khusan Tursunov, Head of the Hydrometeorological Services Department at Uzhydromet and Alexander Merkushkin, Climate Risk Expert, UNDP project on Enhancing Early Warning Systems in Uzbekistan
From Forecasts to Decision-Making: Why Uzbekistan Needs a National Framework for Climate Services
October 13, 2026
As climate risks intensify, demand for reliable hydrometeorological information in Uzbekistan is growing. Once used primarily by technical specialists, this information is increasingly informing decisions across government, the insurance industry, the private sector and other areas.
The figures tell a clear story. In 2025, Uzhydromet received 48 information requests from insurance companies, 19 from the Ministry of Emergency Situations, 12 from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and 132 from other organisations. In the first six months of 2026, insurance companies alone submitted 68 requests, that are already more than in the whole of 2025. During the same period, Uzhydromet received four requests from the Ministry of Emergency Situations and 74 from other organisations.
This trend points to a broader shift: climate information is becoming an increasingly valuable resource for decision-making across sectors. Meeting this demand effectively requires a systematic approach that ensures sustained cooperation between providers and users of climate services.
Hydrologists are testing new monitoring equipment
UNDP Uzbekistan
This is where the National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) provides a solution.
Promoted by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the NFCS provides a coordinated approach to developing and strengthening national climate services. It is not a new institution or a standalone information system. Rather, it is a framework for bringing institutions and stakeholders together to improve the quality, accessibility and practical value of climate information.
The real value of climate services lies in transforming observations and forecasts into actionable information that supports risk management, planning and investment decisions. This is why the NFCS is built around a user-oriented approach: users do not simply need large volumes of raw data, but clear, relevant products tailored to their specific practical needs.
Putting this principle into practice requires a combination of institutional and technical measures. This means establishing clear coordination arrangements, defining institutional responsibilities, developing digital infrastructure for data exchange, and putting in place mechanisms to monitor progress and assess results.
National partners and UNDP experts are participating in the Interagency working meeting to discuss NFCS documents
UNDP Uzbekistan
In Uzbekistan, climate risks are already having a tangible impact on water resources and agriculture, energy, transport, healthcare and emergency management.
For a country where agriculture depends heavily on water availability, information on temperature, precipitation and drought is particularly important. It helps inform decisions on irrigation, water allocation and the timing of agricultural activities. Climate information is equally vital for protecting people from hazardous weather. Extreme heat, frost, intense rainfall, hail and mudflows require reliable data that enable authorities to make informed decisions and take preventive action before hazards escalate.
Extreme heat illustrates how this works in practice. Drawing on Uzhydromet forecasts, the Ministry of Health can take advanced measures to strengthen healthcare preparedness and protect people from the effects of high temperatures. In the water sector, the same information can help inform irrigation schedules and agricultural planning.
In other words, a weather forecast becomes more than a routine update on atmospheric conditions: it becomes an integral part of risk management.
A woman is carefully sorting freshly harvested grapes
UNDP Uzbekistan
Uzhydromet is continuously expanding its observation infrastructure, introducing automated systems and improving data management. But better data alone is not enough. Climate services must also be accessible, understandable and relevant to the decisions users need to make.
Developing the NFCS requires closer collaboration between Uzhydromet, ministries, government agencies, the private sector and the scientific community. Regular feedback from users should become an integral part of climate service development, alongside monitoring and evaluation systems that assess how effectively these services meet actual needs and support decision-making.
Newly installed X-band radar in the Tashkent Region enhances Uzhydromet’s observation network
UNDP Uzbekistan
Together with the United Nations Development Programme, and with financial support from the Green Climate Fund, we are taking a phased approach to establishing the NFCS in Uzbekistan. Two important steps have already been taken: an NFCS Implementation Action Plan and Climate Services Business Model for Uzhydromet have been developed and presented to climate service users for discussion. The next step is to adopt the Action Plan and begin its implementation over a period of up to four years.
Our goal is to turn the observations collected daily by Uzhydromet specialists into high-quality climate services that empower ministries and government agencies to make informed, climate-resilient decisions and help build a more resilient Uzbekistan.
