During the discussion of the issues of representation of the Central Asian countries in the international arena, the stakeholders shared their opinions on the region's preparation for the next 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP28).
The discussion hosted at the panel session “Leveraging regional collaboration in a changing global policy environment” of the 5th Central Asian Conference on Climate Change (CACCC-2023) on May 17, 2023.
According to the Director of the Department of Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan Akzan Shiranov, the region is ready to unite and support for the region is vital. Akzan Shiranov suggested Central Asian countries to present their position on loss and damages at COP 28.
Director, Climate Finance Center under Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic Azamat Temirkulov (online participation) stressed the importance of the region’s participation in the UNFCCC Conferences of Parties as they discuss significant issues. He suggested that the regional statement of the Central Asian countries to UNFCCC COP28 should focus on such important issues as a partnership, improving infrastructure, transition to low-carbon development, and financing innovative technologies for adaptation to climate change.
Head of the Climate Change and Ozone Layer Research Center of the Agency for Hydrometeorology of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan Sattor Saidov stressed that the problem of melting glaciers is substantial for the whole world, including Central Asia. He recalled that one of the main messages of COP-27 was the financing of developing countries in the fight against climate change.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan Charyar Chetiyev confirmed the active participation of Turkmenistan in the preparations for UNFCCC COP28.
Sayera Abdullayeva, the chief specialist of the Scientific and Information Centre of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development in the Republic of Uzbekistan of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan, noted that participation in the Conferences of the Parties of the UNFCCC promotes understanding Monitoring global requirements and trends for adaptation to climate change.
Sayera Abdullayeva stressed that the representation of the region in the international arena improved after the organization of the Pavilion of Central Asia at UNFCCC COP26 in Glasgow, UK. The Central Asian pavilion presented the countries of the region as a single bloc in the international climate arena.
Panelists agreed that the regional statement at UNFCCC COP28 should reflect the intentions of the countries of the region and identify key climate challenges that have an impact on economic development. In addition, the declaration should indicate the problem areas of the region: drying up of the Aral Sea, and climate migration of the population.
