Dushanbe, Tajikistan – October 31, 2025. – On the final day of the First Regional Conference of the “One Health for Pandemic Prevention, Food Systems Resilience, and Ecosystem Health in Central Asia” program, a Regional Dialogue of Central Asian Countries was held in preparation for the upcoming 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) under the slogan “80 Million People, 5 Countries — One Voice for COP30.”
The event served as a key platform for discussing joint climate actions of the Central Asian countries in the lead-up to COP30, which will take place in Belém, Brazil, in 2025.
The First Regional “One Health” Conference brought together representatives from the five Central Asian countries, international organizations, and experts to discuss collaborative efforts aimed at strengthening the region’s resilience in the face of climate and environmental challenges.
Central Asia is on its way to COP30. What is the importance of dialogue: a unified voice of the region in the global climate agenda?
“The main goal of the dialogue is to coordinate the positions of the Central Asian countries ahead of COP30, strengthen regional cooperation, and develop a unified regional voice on international climate platforms,” commented Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the Project Office of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) in Turkmenistan.
During the dialogue, the Central Asian countries discussed:
- priorities within the framework of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0);
- ways to adapt to climate change;
- methane emission reduction;
- and the integration of regional priorities — such as health protection, glacier conservation, and mountain ecosystem preservation — into the global climate agenda.
Participants and Format
The event brought together senior officials and representatives of government bodies responsible for climate policy and the implementation of NDCs, the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and other international partners, as well as representatives of academia, youth movements, and non-governmental organizations.
From Turkmenistan, the participants included Nury Jumashov, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection, Atamyrat Rejepov, Director of the “Bereketli-Garagum” Nature Reserve, and Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the CAREC project Office in Turkmenistan.
Welcoming remarks were delivered by Isfandiyor Shukurzoda, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, and Dr. Batyr Mamedov, Executive Director of CAREC.
The sessions also featured video messages from Yerlan Nysanbayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who emphasized the importance of developing joint approaches among Central Asian countries to achieve climate goals.
The dialogue was moderated by Sino Tokhirzoda, Director of the National Center for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement under the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, and Dilovarsho Dustzoda, Adviser to the Executive Director and Head of Programs at CAREC. The moderators ensured a substantive and constructive exchange of views between the countries of the region and international partners.
Key Topics and Outcomes of the Discussions
The first session focused on the transition from the Global Overview to NDCs 3.0 and on ways to enhance climate ambition. Participants explored practical pathways for moving from commitments to concrete action and financing adaptation measures.
The second session addressed the issues of glaciers and mountain ecosystems as a key regional priority for COP30. Particular attention was given to the protection of mountain ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as to combating desertification.
Turkmenistan presented a report on combating desertification as the most important direction of its environmental policy.
The third session was devoted to coordinating the participation of Central Asian countries at COP30. Plans for joint events and youth initiatives aimed at strengthening the regional presence and promoting a unified voice of Central Asia in the international climate arena were discussed.
“The Regional Dialogue became an important step toward forming a common vision for the climate future of Central Asia. The joint actions of the countries in the region represent not only a contribution to the global climate agenda, but also a guarantee of sustainable development and well-being for future generations,” noted Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the CAREC Country Office in Turkmenistan.
Additional information:
Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan, turkmenistan@carececo.org