Central Asia is among the world's most vulnerable regions to climate change. And while some of the Central Asian countries are heavily reliant on fossil fuels, there is potential for renewable energy across this entire part of the world. Let's have a closer look at electricity today.

Who are the main drivers of the energy transition? Is cross-border cooperation happening? Are the grids ready for the renewable transition? Which role does hydro play? And what about some countries' nuclear ambitions?

To get a grip on these and many other topics, Nick Fulghum and Ufuk Alparslan of Ember dive into the Central Asian section of their 2025 Global Electricity Review with Boris, while Angelina meets Tatiana Lanshina of Agora Energiewende, who after an overview of the entire region, zooms into Kazakhstan's power sector specifically.

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The Eurasian Climate Brief is a podcast dedicated to climate issues in the region stretching from Eastern Europe to Russia down to the Caucasus and Central Asia.

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References cited in the episode:

https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-review-2025/

https://www.agora-energiewende.org/publications/kazakhstans-power-system-2035

https://www.agora-energiewende.org/publications/enabling-a-just-coal-transition-in-kazakhstan

https://www.etf.europa.eu/en/greenskills2025/kazakhstan-green-skills-future

https://vlast.kz/english/66616-after-trump-tokayev-also-calls-climate-change-a-fraud-and-praises-coal-in-kazakhstan.html

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This episode is supported by n-ost, a media NGO and European Journalistic Network committed to cross-border and multi-prospective reporting, and made by:

• Boris Schneider, political economist. European Programme Manager at Clean Energy Wire CLEW (Berlin). Has worked as a specialist on Eastern European climate and energy topics, amongst others for n-ost and the German Economic Team.
• Angelina Davydova, environmental/climate journalist. Editor of the magazine Environment and Rights, co-host of the podcast The Day After Tomorrow (Posle Zavtra). Environmental projects coordinator with the Dialogue for Understanding e. V (Berlin). Fellow with the Institute for Global Reconstitution (Berlin). Observer of the UN climate negotiations (UNFCCC) since 2008. Expert/editor of the Ukraine War Environmental CUNFCCC) since 2008. Expert/editor of the Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Work Group.

Jingle: Natallia Kunitskaya (Mustelide)
 Sound editing & mixing: Angelo Tripkovsky