The recent gathering of Ministers of the Environment from Central Asian countries, along with representatives from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), highlighted the imperative of collaborative efforts in tackling environmental challenges and advancing climate action initiatives across the region, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan reported.
Hosted in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, the meeting saw participation from high-ranking officials including Uzbekistan's Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, Aziz Abdukhakimov, as well as counterparts from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan. Additionally, heads of environmental ministries, departments, and OSCE missions in Central Asian countries attended the event.
A wide spectrum of issues falling under the OSCE's mandate, including transboundary water resource management, energy security, climate change adaptation and mitigation, disaster risk reduction, and gender equality in environmental endeavors, were deliberated.
Numerous proposals and initiatives were put forth by the attending ministers. Kazakhstan's Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Nurken Sharbiyev, suggested convening a Regional Environmental Summit in 2026 to devise joint strategies for climate action. Kyrgyz Republic's Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, Melis Turgunbaev, proposed the establishment of a group of mountain countries at COP29, focusing on gender issues. Tajikistan's Chairman of the Environmental Protection Committee, Bakhodur Sheralizoda, announced plans for 2025 to be declared the "International Year of Glacier Conservation" and advocated for the creation of an International Trust Fund for Glacier Conservation.
Turkmenistan's Minister of Environmental Protection, Charygeldi Babaniyazov, revealed plans for a Regional Center for Climate Technologies and suggested hosting an OSCE forum on climate-resilient technologies. Uzbekistan's Abdukhakimov proposed the establishment of a Regional Climate Monitoring Center and a Regional Platform on Dust and Sand Storms, among other initiatives aimed at bolstering environmental cooperation.
In her address, OSCE Secretary General, Helga Maria Schmid, emphasized the significance of enhancing OSCE's partnership with Central Asian countries. She underscored areas for collaboration including climate-resilient energy transition, disaster response capacity building, water security, and gender mainstreaming in environmental policymaking.
The meeting also witnessed discussions on promoting women's participation in climate negotiations, with proposals for forums such as "Women and Water Resources" and the opening of a dedicated pavilion showcasing "Women of Central Asia" at COP-29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, later in 2024.
Beyond environmental deliberations, the Uzbek delegation engaged in activities fostering regional economic ties, participating in the opening of an exhibition of Afghan goods and services, and the Turkmen-Afghan Business Forum.
As a result of the meeting, plans to intensify collaboration with the OSCE on environmental protection and climate change were outlined. Additionally, efforts to establish a Central Asian negotiating group for participation in UNFCCC events were highlighted, aiming to enhance the region's visibility and efficacy in international negotiations.
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