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Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Program(CCSE)


Background

The program supports the countries of Central Asia in formulation their national policies on climate change and sustainable energy, through the use of low-carbon development principles, energy efficiency, promotion of renewable energy sources (RES) and introduction of adaptation and climate resilient measures.  

The program prioritizes an inter-disciplinary approach in tackling climate change and sees adaptation, sustainable energy and low-carbon development as key instruments towards implementation of the Paris Agreement to achieve the goals of the UN Framework Convention on climate change. The program also foresees capacity building, knowledge sharing and information exchange as well as maintains a network of local, sub-regional and international experts. CCSE team participates in global climate processes, facilitates a sub-regional dialogue and promotes a south-south cooperation.

For the time being, CCSE program is a member of the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) and partner of the Nairobi Work Programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change (NWP), which are key operational arms of the UNFCCC Convention. CAREC is a sub-regional hub of the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN), while CCSE is a focal point, which assures the recognition of common interests of the countries of Central Asia towards climate resilience and adaptation within regional and international platforms. It also promotes a regional cooperation on sustainable energy and particularly sees this opportunity in the context of the regular policy dialogues and forums, which are facilitated by UN ESCAP.

        

OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES

  • Support the countries of Central Asia to formulate and implement their national policies on climate change, with the use of the low-carbon development principles, energy efficiency and renewable energy sources (RES).
  • Support the countries of Central Asia to enhance an inter-sector cooperation in tackling climate vulnerability through information exchange and knowledge management, improvement of climate delivery services, technology transfer and finance, as well as enhance cooperation on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction at the sub-regional level.   
  • Facilitate a sub-regional dialogue and explore opportunities for a joint vision of the countries of Central Asia towards formulation and implementation of the global climate agenda (Paris Agreement) and sustainable development goals (especially SDG 13 in the context of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development).
  • Capacity building and exchange of best practices on low-carbon development and climate change adaptation in priority sectors of socio-economic development of the countries of Central Asia.
  • Assure technical expertise of local specialists and program’s staff in performing sub-regional and national assessments and expert reviews as well as in implementing research projects on energy efficiency, RES, climate resilience and adaptation. 

         

  KEY RESULTS

1.       Sub-regional cooperation and global climate processes

CAREC actively supports the countries of Central Asia at the global climate processes. The key goal of such support is to maintain a sub-regional dialogue platform to explore opportunities and formulate a joint vision of the countries of Central Asia towards formulation and implementation of global climate policy. In 2009, for instance, CAREC’s program in cooperation with the German Government, UNEP and national partners from Uzhydromet and Ministry of nature protection of Turkmenistan organized a row of workshops and seminars to formulate the joint vision towards Copenhagen’s Conference of the Parties. In 2012, the process was renewed during the UN Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). CCSE team organized a side-event and informed the international community about the efforts undertaken by the countries of Central Asia towards low-carbon development, transition to “green economy” and sustainable development. 

Considering the fact that 2015 was a historical year in the context of global climate change negotiations, CAREC jointly with its international partners, launched a sub-regional initiative on preparation towards Paris in Central Asia (so-called “Paris process” in Central Asia). To this end, a regional climate change conference was arranged jointly by APAN and CAREC in Almaty on February 3-4, 2015. The event focused on the progress in formulating national climate policies and tools on reducing GHG emissions, climate resilience and adaptation in CACs. The final conference document described shared regional priorities on adaptation and mitigation as well as target capacity building in the CAR. An intermediate meeting of CACs representatives and CAREC took place June 3, 2015 in Bonn within the 42nd meeting of SBSTA/SBI. The team presented the regional vision of CACs towards COP-21 in Paris and once again confirmed its commitment to a sub-regional dialogue.

The 2nd regional conference (November 5-6, 2015) became the logical continuation of the “Paris process” in Central Asia. Its main objectives included provision of a regional platform to exchange information and experience on reassumed obligations on adaptation and GHG reduction till 2030 within the INDCs, to analyze the efforts by CACs towards “green economy”, low-carbon development and climate resilience. Much attention at the event was rendered to the preparation for the upcoming COP-21 in Paris.

The “Paris process” in Central Asia resulted in the participation of CACs representatives in the COP-21 side-event on December 4, 2015 organized by CAREC and the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC Europe) with the aim of informing the international community on national low-carbon development and adaptation policies and innovative practices in Central Asia.

The 2015 Paris Conference and the so-called Paris Package will lay the foundation for subsequent drafting of the new global climate agreement, which is to take force in 2020. Therefore, in close cooperation with CACs CAREC will continue its sub-regional process to elaborate target mechanisms and tools on reporting, funding and coordination of respective national policies.  

More information about CAREC’s role in “Paris process” in Central Asia is found at:

·         CAREC’s contribution to submissions on the knowledge-sharing and training activities undertaken by regional centres and networks on adaptation planning processes and processes and structures for linking national and local adaptation planning. UNFCCC Decisions. http://unfccc.int/adaptation/nairobi_work_programme/knowledge_resources_and_publications/items/9557....

·         Global Climate Processes in Central Asia: achievements, opportunities and expectations. In Russian. Working Paper. (http://carececo.org/upload/1/rus_global%20climate%20processes%20in%20CA.pdf)

·         Towards Paris 2015: What does a new global climate policy mean for Central Asia? Technical Paper. (http://carececo.org/upload/02/eng_Towards%20Paris%202015_CAREC_August%202015.pdf)

·         Climate change in Central Asia: impacts, response measures and readiness to Paris. Video. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfb-I2naNHE)

·         Joint side-event of REC and CAREC: Innovative decision making tools for low carbon development and climate resilience in Europe and Central Asia. Post release. (http://carececo.org/news/sovmestnyy-sayd-ivent-rets-retstsa/)

·         Central Asia Climate Change Focal Points and Expert Network Meeting: Towards Paris 2015: New Climate Agreement and Opportunities for Central Asia. In Russian. November 5-6. 2016. Post release. http://carececo.org/news/zaklyuchen-itogovyy-dokument-regionalnoy-konferentsii-na-puti-v-parizh-2015...

·         Regional Conference on Climate Change in Central Asia: Opportunities for joint actions towards Paris 2015. February 3-4. 2015. In Russian. Post-release. (http://carececo.org/en/news/the-conference-on-climate-change-in-central-asia/?sphrase_id=444)

·         CAREC keeps pace in supporting the post-Paris climate process in Central Asia. News. (http://carececo.org/en/news/retstsa-prodolzhaet-podderzhivat-post-parizhskiy-klimaticheskiy-protsess...)

·         CAREC participates in Bonn Climate Conference. News. (http://carececo.org/en/news/retstsa-prinyal-uchastie-na-mezhdunarodnoy-konferentsii-po-izmeneniyu-klimatu-v-bonne/?sphrase_id=444)

2.       Scientific and evidence-based approach

CCSE team successfully cooperates with international and regional institutes on research topics. For example, the project “Migration, remittances, adaptation and resilience in arid and semi-arid regions of Senegal and Tajikistan”, which is one of the research packages of the multi-country research initiative “Pathways to Resilience in Semi-Arid Economies or PRISE” is being implemented by CAREC in Tajikistan, considers migration as an opportunity for climate change adaptation. Innovation of the research is to generate new knowledge on how economic development in arid and semi-arid countries can be more resilient to climate change.

Nowadays observations suggest that remittances are mostly used to support livelihoods and satisfy basic needs of households. The share of remittances is also used to generate revenues from economic activities, including entrepreneurship, farming, agriculture, etc. On the other hand, there are cases when remittances play a critical role in reconstruction of damaged households after natural disasters. In times of climate change, the frequency and intensity of natural disasters will increase, and require more allocation of migrant inflows to reconstruction activities. In order to avoid episodic peaks in short-term private investments, there is a need to introduce a number of policies and measures, which would provide an enabling environment for the migrant remittances to grow up and be accountable for a long-term climate-resilient development.

In this context, CAREC team in collaboration with national partners in Tajikistan and international experts of PRISE initiative is conducting a research to determine a role of migrants and the state of private investments through remittances, which contribute to a climate-resilient development at the household level in Sughd, Khatlon provinces, as well as within the Regions of Republican Subordination (RRS) and Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO). The science-based approach of the project is considered important for the formulation of effective policy measures, especially in times of current exposure of the country to environmental and climate challenges.

The project is about to be completed in 2019. As of today, CCSE team finalized the methodology of the research and defined a number of pilot sites to conduct field survey and collect data at the level of households. Key components for a successful research have also been taken into account. They include ethics, code of conduct and participatory approach of all stakeholders (both governmental and non-governmental).

More information about CAREC’s role in scientific and evidence-based approach to tackle climate change in Central Asia is found at:

·         Pathways to Resilience in Semi-Arid Economies. PRISE. (http://prise.odi.org)

·         CAREC team in PRISE. Team. (http://prise.odi.org/the-prise-team/)

·         Connecting Science to Policy Making: Opportunities for migration, remittances and climate resilience in Tajikistan. Post release. (http://carececo.org/en/news/connecting-science-to-policy-making-opportunities-for-migration-remittan...)

·         Connecting Africa and Central Asia: CAREC and IED Afrique are ready to enhance cooperation on climate resilience. Brief. (http://carececo.org/en/news/connecting-africa-and-central-asia-carec-and-ied-afrique-are-ready-to-en...)

·         Private investments contribute to the development of community-based farms in Tajikistan. In Russian. Brief. http://carececo.org/news/chastnye-investitsii-sposobstvuyut-razvitiyu-fermerskikh-khozyaystv-v-tadzh...

·         Investing into entrepreneurship in Yavan (Tajikistan). In Russian. Brief. http://carececo.org/news/chastnye-investitsii-sposobstvuyut-razvitiyu-predprinimatelstva-v-yavane-ta...

·         CAREC participates at SDPI's 18th Sustainable Development Conference. News. (http://carececo.org/en/news/18-ya-mezhdunarodnaya-konferentsiya-po-ustoychivomu-razvitiyu/?sphrase_i...)

·         CAREC participates at the annual learning review meeting on climate change. News. (http://carececo.org/en/news/retstsa-uchastvuet-na-vstreche-konsortsiuma-po-izmeneniyu-klimata/?sphra...)

·         Tajikistan: Country Situation Report. Working Paper. (http://carececo.org/en/publications/tajikistan-country-situation-assessment-/?sphrase_id=443)

·         CAREC participates in the annual PRISE Consortium Meeting in Dubai. News. (http://carececo.org/en/news/retstsa-uchastvuet-v-ezhegodnoy-vstreche-partnerov-konsortsiuma-prise-/)

2.       Towards a low-carbon development path

CAREC is a pioneer in supporting the countries of Central Asia to develop their national programs on low-carbon development, using the NAMA instrument (Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions). In 2011-2014, under the leadership of the DIW Econ and support provided by the German Government, CCSE team on behalf of CAREC assisted the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to develop their sector-based policy documents. All these documents tackle greenhouse gas emission reduction through the introduction of energy efficient/ energy-saving measures (Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan) and carbon sequestration (Tajikistan).

CAREC’s role in this project was not only attaining the local expertise and build the capacity of civil servants and private companies on low-carbon development but formulating a comprehensive methodology on carbon sequestration with the detailed estimates of the certified GHG emission reductions in Tajikistan. This was the very program, which has succeeded to get funding under the NAMA Facility Fund in 2014. Nowadays GIZ office in Tajikistan coordinates the follow-up activities and conducts a feasibility study.

More information about CAREC’s role in low-carbon development in Central Asia is found at:

·         Low-carbon development practices and updates of the NAMA projects in Central Asia. Website. www.led-ca.net

·         NAMA Facility Fund: Tajikistan Forestry NAMA Support Project. News. (http://www.nama-facility.org/projects/tajikistan.html)

3.       Regional analytical platform on climate change

This activity is implemented in the context of Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for Aral Sea Basin (CAMP4ASB). Project’s development objective is to enhance regionally coordinated access to improved climate change knowledge services for key stakeholders in participating Central Asian countries as well as to increased investments and capacity building that, combined, will address climate challenges common to these countries. Since August 2016, CAREC as acts as the Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) to implement and coordinate the implementation of the CAMP4ASB regional components.

·         Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for Aral Sea Basin (CAMP4ASB). Project Profile. (http://carececo.org/en/projects/programma-po-adaptatsii-k-izmeneniyu-klimata-i-smyagcheniyu-ego-posledstviy-dlya-basseyna-aralskogo-/)

4.       Capacity building and best practices

Over the last three years, CCSE was able to outreach more than 500 specialists of all five CACs through the trainings and seminars dedicated to climate change, low-carbon development and sustainable energy. More than 100 best practices and technologies on RES and energy efficiency at the level of production and use have been collected. The target audience primarily includes business and private companies and highlights the effectiveness of the “green” technologies for energy saving. At the same time, national policies and programs, which target low-carbon development in Central Asia have also been collected and shared. An online website (www.led-ca.net) serves as a platform for information exchange and raising awareness for a wide audience, which goes beyond Central Asia. CCSE’s approach on better information services on climate change and sustainable energy aims to improve effective decision making process in the countries of Central Asia to fight against climate change and enhance a communication and networking among the sub-regional counterparts.

Key analytical products, which have been produced by the program team and experts in 2015-2016, are the following:

·         Best practices on energy efficiency and low-carbon development in business sector: Website. www.caeelp.org

·         Low-carbon development practices and updates of the NAMA projects in Central Asia. Website. www.led-ca.net

·         Energy efficiency assessment of household electrical appliances in Central Asia and policies for energy performance standards and labeling. Expert report (http://carececo.org/upload/medialibrary/2ac/Energy%20Efficiency%20Assessment%20of%20Household%20Elec...)

·         Vehicle emissions, fuel quality standards and fuel economy policies in Kazakhstan. Stocktaking analytical report. (http://carececo.org/upload/02/eng_Clean%20Fuel_final.pdf)

·         Capacity building to conduct field surveys in Tajikistan. (http://carececo.org/en/news/usilenie-potentsiala-intervyuerov-dlya-provedeniya-polevykh-issledovaniy/?sphrase_id=724)

OUR PARTNERS

CAREC’s Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Program closely cooperates with national, regional and international partners and institutions. At the governmental level, the institutions include Ministries of Environment and Nature Protection, Economic Development, Industry and Technology, Emergencies and Hydromets, Migration, Employment and Social Protection of all countries of Central Asia. Program team also cooperates with civil society organizations and NGOs, academia and scientific institutes on economic development, energy and climate change. At the district level, program team cooperates with local authorities and community-based organizations.

Key partners and sponsors of the program are Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit), USAID (US Agency for International Development), European Commission, UNFCCC Secretariat (UN Framework Convention on climate change), UNEP (UN Environment Program), UNDP (UN Development Program), UN ESCAP (UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific), World Bank team, APAN partners, Governments of Japan and Korea.

CCSA program team also closely collaborates with lead research institutions, such as Overseas Development Institute in Great Britain (ODI), Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and Environment (GRI) of the London School of Economics (LSE), and Institute on Innovation, Environment and Development, Afrique (IED Afrique).

Should you require more details, please, contact:

Irina Bekmirzaeva

 Program Manager, Climate Change and Sustainable Energy and Coordinator CAMP4ASB project

ibekmirzaeva@carececo.org    

Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC)
40, Orbita-1 Street, 050043, Almaty 
Republic of Kazakhstan
T: +7 (727) 265 4333; 265 4334 
F: +7 (727) 265 4325 
W: www.carececo.org



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