Astana, Kazakhstan – December 13-14, 2023
Supported by the Blue Peace Central Asia Initiative, funded by Switzerland, Astana will host the meeting of the Regional Water Quality Working Group (RWQWG) and the regular session of the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan Joint Working Group (Commission) on Environmental Protection and Water Quality in the Syr Darya River Basin on December 13-14, 2023.
The Regional Water Quality Working Group meeting will feature an active expert dialogue among the countries, providing an opportunity for open discussions on water quality issues and sharing experiences through regional and bilateral initiatives. Regular meetings contribute to enhancing transboundary cooperation and placing water quality issues on the agenda at the basin level.
To enhance the potential of Group members, development partners and international water quality experts are invited to present cutting-edge global practices and best cases in water quality management. The upcoming meeting on December 13 will focus on wastewater and its impact on the final quality of surface and groundwater.
On December 14, the Sixth Session of the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan Joint Working Group (Commission) on Environmental Protection and Water Quality in the Syr Darya River Basin will take place. The session will discuss joint measures taken by the countries to prevent pollution and improve the quality of water in the Syr Darya River Basin. The approval of the Joint Action Plan of the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan Commission for 2024 is planned.
To ensure the effectiveness of joint actions to improve water quality, upper riparian countries, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, are regularly involved in the Commission's work.
For information:
The Blue Peace Central Asia Initiative of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation is implemented by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC).
Since 2019, the Blue Peace Central Asia Initiative of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has been supporting the work of the Regional Water Quality Working Group (RWQWG). Established in 2009 with the involvement of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), the RWQWG includes representatives from national water and environmental ministries of five Central Asian countries.
The Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan Joint Commission on Environmental Protection and Water Quality in the Syr Darya River Basin was established in September 2018 under the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on cooperation in environmental protection and rational use of natural resources, as well as the Economic Cooperation Strategy between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Blue Peace Central Asia Initiative has supported five Commission meetings. During the Commission's operation, the Parties agreed on and approved a list of 28 indicators for joint monitoring of the water quality of the Syr Darya River, as well as methods for their measurement. Procedures for coordinated monitoring and exchange of information (data) on water quality were also agreed and approved. The Commission's Joint Action Plan is approved annually.