On April 18, the first meeting of the Interdepartmental Working Group (IDWG) took place on the effective preparation of the participation of the delegation of the Kyrgyz Republic at the UNFCCC COP-29, which was created as part of the implementation of the decisions of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic on the country’s participation in the COP29. The IDWG includes representatives of key ministries, international development partners, regional organizations, the non-governmental sector and experts. From the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), the IDWG included Director of the CAREC branch in the Kyrgyz Republic, Kuban Matraimov, and the Regional Climate Change Specialist, Vladimir Grebnev.
During the Meeting, chaired by the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision, Ms. Asel Raimkulova, information was presented on the goals and objectives of the IDWG, as well as preliminary plans for the participation of the Kyrgyz Republic in COP29.
To increase the efficiency of activities, an expert advisory group was created from members of the IWG with practical experience in preparing for and participating in global climate negotiation processes, and the development of an Action Plan and distribution of responsibilities was initiated.
At the meeting, it was decided (1) to develop an Action Plan in preparation for COP 29 of the UNFCCC and tentatively determined the structure of the Plan and (2) to inform all members of the IDWG for a better understanding of the goals and objectives of the annual Conference of the Parties by providing materials for COP 28: results, decisions, participation of the Kyrgyz delegation, organization of the pavilion. The direction of development of mountain regions was announced as the main topic for the future participation and promotion of the country.
“The topic of Mountains and climate is an important area not only for Kyrgyzstan, but also for other countries members of the Mountain Partnership, and since COP-29 will be carried out in the area of climate finance, it would be good for mountain countries to further promote the initiative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic to exchange external debt for climate projects, as well as initiate “the definition of a separate direction for mountain countries in key financial mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Facility, etc.," noted Vladimir Grebnev.
The IWG meeting will be held on a monthly basis under the organization of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision.