1March 17, 2021 – an online meeting on climate change issues was held with the participation of Central Asian States Ministries of Foreign Affairs and parliamentarians.
Parliamentarians, representatives of Ministries of Foreign Affairs, environmental ministries, and departments of the CA countries together with representatives of embassies and international organizations discussed achieved results in the implementation of their state obligations under the Paris Agreement.
At the meeting, Senior Environmental Specialist of the World Bank, Mr. John Bryant Collier noticed the WB’s contribution to the formation of dialogue with each Central Asian country in strengthening cooperation to respond to climate change and to build a long-term strategy for economic development under climate change conditions.
Chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, Mr. Sulton Rakhimzoda emphasized the importance of cooperation between the countries of Central Asia and called it a key element in the implementation of adaptation measures to mitigate climate change.
CAREC Executive Director, Mr. Zafar Makhmudov noticed that 2021 will become the key year to combat climate change since the adoption of the Paris Agreement.
At the Plenary Session “Progress in national climate change legislation improvement in the Central Asian countries” representatives of Central Asian countries reported their achievements. Kazakhstan declared the country enshrined in legislative measures to combat climate change. “This is an important step in preventing and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change, since they were not legally enshrined before,” said Member of the Committee on Ecology and Nature Management at the Majilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. Eldos Abakanov.
This is an important step in preventing and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change since they were not legally enshrined before.
Chairman of the Committee on Agrarian Issues, Land and Water Resources of the Majlisi Namoyandagon Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. Latifzoda Rustam reported the number of laws adopted by the Republic. Director of the Hydrometeorology Agency of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, UNFCCC Coordinator, Mr. Dilovarsho Dustzoda informed about commitments Tajikistan made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Presently, Tajikistan approved the project for the development of a National Action Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change of the Republic of Tajikistan.
According to the Chairman of the Committee of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan on Environmental Protection, Nature Management and Agro-Industrial Complex, Mr. Azat Seidibayev, Turkmenistan passed a number of laws on nature protection and nature management, protection of the ozone layer, on chemical safety, on specially protected natural areas, on environmental expertise, environmental safety, environmental audit, and etc. The country continues its efforts to reform environmental legislation.
As noted by the Deputy of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Member of the Committee on Ecology and Environmental Protection, Ms. Mukaddas Tirkasheva, climate change issues are indirectly included in all the strategies for the development of economic sectors that have been recently developed in the country, as well as in the National Sustainable Development Goals.
Head of the Climate Change Monitoring Department of the Hydrometeorological Service Center, Ms. Sayera Abdullaeva reported presently Uzbekistan’s Hydrometeorological Service Center has started preparation for a long-term strategy on climate change, to mitigate the effects of climate change, recognizing the need for urgent action.
At the meeting, Ms. Irina Bekmirzaeva, Coordinator of the Regional Coordinating Group of the Project "Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for Aral Sea Basin" (CAMP4ASB) presented the Project’s results and informed about preparations for the Fourth Central Asian Conference on Climate Change CACCC-2020)-2021 to be held at the Environment ministerial level in Dushanbe. She noticed the creation of the Central Asian Climate Platform (https://www.centralasiaclimateportal.org)as one of the main results of the project. The Platform is developed due to the request of the Central Asian countries. It collects and structures relevant data and knowledge on climate change in Central Asia.
At the session “Facilitating the political dialogue and capacity building for the countries of Central Asia for the UNFCCC COP26”, Mr. Ismail Dairov and Ms. Alessandra Fidanza, CAMP4ASB Project Consultants, informed the participants about the support of national and regional dialogues in preparation for the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC and the development of a draft regional statement from the countries of Central Asia.
The participants considered the meeting as efficient and expressed the hope that it will activate further strengthening of regional cooperation in the implementation of the Paris Agreement in terms of legislation and strategic planning.
The next meeting of MFA representatives and parliamentarians on climate change is scheduled to be held during the fourth Central Asian Conference on Climate Change (CACCC-2021) in Dushanbe (Tajikistan).
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The event was organized by the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC) within the framework of the regional project of the World Bank / EC IFAS “Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for Aral Sea Basin" (CAMP4ASB).