Kyrgyzstan – Bishkek – July 14, 2023 – the Executive Director of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), Zafar Makhmudov, held a meeting with Kumyushai Suyumbayeva, Advisor to the Department of Water and Environmental Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic and Meder Kanybek uulu, 3rd Secretary of the Department of Water and Environmental Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic.The CAREC's top specialists and experts also participated in the meeting.
The meeting discussed preparation for the upcoming annual global climate summit, the 28th session of the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP28) in Dubai, UAE.
The Executive Director of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), Zafar Makhmudov, informed that the recent Meeting of Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Parliamentarians of Central Asian countries decided in Tashkent to unite efforts of Central Asian countries for participation in UNFCCC COP28 and prepare the regular Joint Regional Statement on behalf of Central Asian countries at UNFCCC COP28. They made this decision on the previous successful representation of the single region of Central Asia at UNFCCC COP26 and COP27.
"Compared to other actors, especially regional groups, the countries of Central Asia are less visible, and many important negotiation processes at the Conferences of the Parties to the UNFCCC remain outside the scope of our active participation. Because of this, the investment attractiveness and competitiveness of the countries of the Central Asian region are decreasing. Central Asian countries need to represent their climate interests, and it is desirable to demonstrate the investment attractiveness of each country as a single region. Therefore, we suggest that the Central Asian countries unite and organize a single Central Asian Pavilion at UNFCCC COP28, as well as try to form a Regional Negotiating Group of the Central Asian countries to participate in the climate negotiations, as a result of which the representation of the Central Asian countries will increase, it will be easier to resolve issues of cooperation with financial institutions and increase the chances of attracting the necessary climate financing," Zafar Makhmudov stressed.
The representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic expressed willingness to help CAREC coordinate preparations for the Joint Regional Statement on behalf of Central Asian countries.
Advisor to the Department of Water and Environmental Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kumyushai Suyumbayeva, informed that the Ministry welcomes the idea of the single Pavilion of Central Asia and will facilitate the active participation of the Kyrgyz delegation in UNFCCC COP28. Therefore, the representatives of MFA of the Kyrgyz Republic became members of the interdepartmental working group of the Kyrgyz Republic to prepare for UNFCCC COP28 in Dubai, UAE.
Brief info:
Supported by the governments of the CA countries, NGOs, and development partners, CAREC organized a Central Asian Pavilion for the first time in the history of the Conference in November 2021 at UNFCCC COP26 in Glasgow (UK). The CA Pavilion, with the slogan 5 Countries – 1 Region – 1 Voice, provided a unique opportunity to get to know CA and its investment potential, demonstrate its role in the global climate process, financing perspectives and current needs, technology exchange, and cooperation opportunities. A Regional statement of the countries of CA was voiced at the Pavilion for the first time in the history of the COP. The Central Asian countries used the Pavilion to inform the global community about national priorities on climate and green transition; and climate risks and objectives. At the subsequent UNFCCC COP27, the countries issued three regional statements on behalf of the governments, the civil sector and the youth.
