Climate change affects every country in Central Asia and every citizen, and the destiny of current and future generations will be determined these days. The problem of climate change requires a complex approach, and we need to rely on innovative factors. The Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Aziz Abdukhakimov, stated at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Post-COP28 Meeting “Central Asia at Climate Change Negotiations: COP28 Outcomes and Plans for COP29” on February 10, 2024 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
“It is extremely important for the Central Asian region to actively participate in the negotiation processes of the Conferences of the Parties and gain political weight at the UN global climate summit. In this sense, today’s discussion of the creation of a regional group of negotiators will become a driving force in promoting the interests of the entire region and the interests of each Central Asian country at the global level,” said Zafar Makhmudov, Executive Director of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC).
Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Grethel Aguilar, noted the importance of adaptation to climate change for the Central Asian region.“We need to recognize the leadership shown by Central Asia in global climate change discussions, such as the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, must be recognized. For example, at COP28 of the UNFCCC, we saw the launch of the Central Asia regional strategy for climate change adaptation. It was something that was celebrated, especially because it showed cooperation among the Central Asian countries, and it was well appreciated. And shortly afterwards, the UN General Assembly adopted a “green agenda” for Central Asia,” emphasized Gretel Aguilar.
UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, Anas Fayyad Karman, said that UNDP support to countries in financing climate action in the European Central Asian region includes a range of initiatives such as green budgeting, public financing, just energy transition, circular economy, resilient food security and agriculture, nature-based solutions and adaptations and resilience.
The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Uzbekistan, Tilo Klinner, noted that at the UNFCCC COP28, the Central Asian countries achieved a lot, in particular, through the Central Asia Pavilion and the many events. He believes that a regional approach with transboundary measures is the only way to counteract the negative impacts and consequences of climate change in the long term and develop sustainable cross-border solutions.
The meeting brought together heads of government agencies of the Central Asian countries responsible for climate change issues, national coordinators of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change from the countries of Central Asia (UNFCCC), representatives of the Central Asian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NGOs, academic, scientific, youth and other organizations involved in climate change issues, partners and representatives of international organizations.
All participants noted the importance of cooperation and coordination of joint efforts in solving the problem of climate change at the regional and global levels.
During the meeting, discussions were held on climate policy formation in Central Asia with the participation of the Vice-Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nurken Sharbiev, the Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic Melis Turgunbaev, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic Tajikistan Abdulkodir Mavlodod, Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Makhtumkuli Akmuradov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan Aziz Abdukhakimov.
The meeting also discussed the role of international partners in creating a sustainable capacity for the Central Asian region, and the participation of NGOs and youth in the sustainable development of climate policy in the Central Asian region.
The event is organized by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) together with the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Central Asian Green University within the framework of the “Dialogue of Central Asian countries on joint preparations for UNFCCC COP28”
