On May 21, 2008 a roundtable on climate change was held in the World Bank Country Office in Uzbekistan. Ron Hoffer, Environment and Water Advisor for the ECA Region, made a presentation on the World Bank’s proposed analytical work on adaptation to climate change in Europe and Central Asia.  The presentation addressed needs in the water, environment and agricultural sectors, and was combined with an informal dialogue on possible synergies with national priorities and plans. 

The participants included relevant ministries, research and academia, donor agencies interested in the topic. They discussed the recent climate trends and projections of climate change, reviewed the initial concepts for the World Bank funded analytical work starting later in 2008, exchanged views on water, environment and agriculture issues, with respect to concerns on impacts and strategies to reduce impacts over the coming decades. The participants also discussed technical and policy initiatives on adaptation by national, regional, United Nations organizations and other international and bilateral organizations.