Agenda of the Central Asian International Environmental Forum

Day 1 – 05 June 2017

High-level segment – plenary session

9.00 – 10.00

Registration of participants

10.00 – 10.05

Official opening of the Forum

10.05 – 10.15

Congratulation notes by the President of Turkmenistan Mr Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the participants of the Central Asian International Environmental Forum on the World Environment Day and the Turkmen representatives of the environmental protection sphere.

10.15 – 10.30

Statement by Mr Batyrmurad Orazmuradov, Chairman of the State Committee of Turkmenistan for Environmental Protection and Land Resources: Ecological well-being and future tasks in the Year of Health and Inspiration under the leadership of the President of Turkmenistan, Mr Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

10.30 – 11.30

Welcoming remarks of the heads of delegations of Central Asian countries.

11.30 – 12.00

Coffee-break and group photo

12.00 – 13.30

Plenary session 1: Challenges and opportunities for environmental cooperation on climate change and water resources in Central Asia 

Format: The speakers are invited to make brief statements on the current state of climate change and water cooperation in the region by suggesting potential joint efforts to solve them in this interactive panel discussion.

Moderator: Mr Batyrmurad Orazmuradov, Chairman of the State Committee of Turkmenistan for Environmental Protection and Land Resources

Opening remarks by the moderator

Statements (each 5 minutes):

Heads of delegations of Central Asian countries: Commitment of Central Asian countries on regional environmental cooperation:  priorities and partnerships.

Panel discussion

Questions for discussion

1. How can your organization strengthen cooperation in climate change and water resources management in Central Asia?

2. What initiatives and projects of your organization are planned to be realized to intensify cooperation in Central Asia?

Panelists:

1. H.E. Mr Peter Burian, Ambassador, the EU Special Representative for Central Asia;

2. Dr Iskandar Abdullaev, Executive Director of CAREC;

3. H.E. Mr Allan Mustard, Ambassador of the United States to Turkmenistan;

4. H.E. Mr Philipp Stalder, Ambassador of Switzerland to the Republic of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan;

5. H.E. Mr Petko Draganov, Ambassador, Special Representative of the UN Secretary- General for Central Asia, Head of the Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia;

6. Ms Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative for UNDP and UNFPA.

13.30 – 14.30

Lunch

14.30 – 16.00

Plenary session 1 (continuation): Challenges and opportunities for environmental cooperation on climate change and water resources in Central Asia 

Moderator: Mr Batyrmurad Orazmuradov, Chairman of the State Committee of Turkmenistan for Environmental Protection and Land Resources

Panel discussion (continuation)

Questions for discussion

1. How can your organization strengthen cooperation in climate change and water resources management in Central Asia?

2. What initiatives and projects of your organization are planned to be realized to intensify cooperation in Central Asia?

Panelists:

1. H.E. Ms Natalya Drozd, Ambassador, Head of the OSCE mission in Ashgabat;

2. Ms Natalia Alexeeva, Head of Central Asia sub-regional office, UN Environment;

3. Ms Valerie Hickey, Practice Manager on Environment, the World Bank;

4. Ms Jamal Annagylyjova, Programmme Officer, Regional Coordination for Europe, UNCCD secretariat;

5. Mr Marco Keiner, Director, Environment Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe;

6. Mr Daouda Ndiaye, Senior Climate Change Specialist, Adaptation Fund Board Secretariat;

7. Ms Yuriko Shoji, Coordinator, Subregional Office for Central Asia, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO);

8. Mr Bulat Yessekin, Vice-Chairman of CAREC Public Advisory Council.

Overview of the session: Mr Batyrmurad Orazmuradov, Chairman of the State Committee of Turkmenistan for Environmental Protection and Land Resources

14.30 – 16.00

Parallel session (by invitation): Harmonization of legislative base of Central Asian countries on water cooperation and environment 

Moderator: Dr Iskandar Abdullaev, Executive Director of CAREC

Opening remarks by the moderator

Statements (each 20 minutes):

Dr Iskandar Abdullaev, CAREC: The «Environment for Central Asia» process.

Discussion, questions and answers

H.E. Mr Petko Draganov, Ambassador, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia: «Possible arrangements on common water sharing in Central Asia».

Discussion, questions and answers

Overview of the session: Dr Iskandar Abdullaev, CAREC

16.00 – 16.30

Coffee-break

16.30 – 18.00

Summary of the Plenary session 1 

Moderators: Mr Batyrmurad Orazmuradov, Chairman of the State Committee of Turkmenistan for Environmental Protection and Land Resources and Dr Iskandar Abdullaev, Executive Director of CAREC

19.00 – 20.00

Dinner and cultural programme

Day 2 – 06 June 2017

Technical segment – plenary session

9.00 – 11.00

Plenary session 2: Climate Change in Central Asia - what should the region expect from the global environmental and development agenda?

Format: The speakers are invited to make short statements on critical aspects of respective themes and provide recommendations on ways to solve them and strengthen collaboration in the context of Central Asia.

Moderator: Mr Batyr Ballyyev, Head of the Division on Environmental Protection, the State Committee of Turkmenistan for Environmental Protection and Land Resources

Opening remarks by the moderator

Statements (each 5 minutes):

1. Ms Natalia Alexeeva, Head of Central Asia sub-regional office, UN Environment: The Agenda 2030 on sustainable development – the SDG13 and the strategic development priorities of Central Asian states and the region;

2. Ms Olga Pilifosova, Manager, Adaptation Programme, UNFCCC Secretariat: Paris Agreement and the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and its implications for the Central Asian region;

3. Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan: Overview of the national climate policies of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

4. Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic: Overview of the national climate policies of the Kyrgyz Republic;

5. Representative of the Republic of Tajikistan: Overview of the national climate policies of the Republic of Tajikistan;

6. Representative of Turkmenistan: Overview of the national climate policies of Turkmenistan;

7. Representative of the Republic of Uzbekistan: Overview of the national climate policies of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Discussion, questions and answers

Overview of the panel discussion: Mr Batyr Ballyyev, the State Committee of Turkmenistan for Environmental Protection and Land Resources

11.00 – 11.30

Coffee-break

11.30 – 13.00

Plenary session 3: Cross-sectoral development in a changing climate in Central Asia 

Moderator: Mr Henry Wyes, Deputy Executive Director of CAREC

Opening remarks by the moderator

Statements (each 5 minutes):

1. Ms Nailya Mustaeva, Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Program Manager, CAREC: Opportunities for solving climate problems related to sustainable energy development, water management, environmental protection and health in Central Asia;

2. Mr Massimo Cozzone, Senior Officer, Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, Italy and Mr Jan-Louis Lavroff, Head of Cooperation, Delegation of the EU to the Republic of Kazakhstan: Review of activities within the EU-CA Working Group on Environmental Protection and Climate Change;

3. Ms Valerie Hickey, Practice Manager on Environment, the World Bank: Strategic directions of the World Bank on the protection of the environment in climate change;

4. Mr Batyr Ballyyev, Head of the Division on Environmental Protection, State Committee for Environmental Protection and Land Resources in Turkmenistan: Opportunities for regional cooperation through the establishment of a climate technology center;

5. Ms Natalia Olofinskaya, Climate Change Adaptation Specialist, UNDP Regional Office: UNDP’s work on climate risk management and adaptation to climate change in Central Asia;

6. Mr Andre Fabian, Director of the Regional Programme for Sustainable and Climate Sensitive Land Use for Economic Development in Central Asia, German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ): Eco-system-based adaptation a ready to go approach for climate change adaptation of communities in Central Asia;

7. Mr Peep Mardiste, Regional Coordinator, National policy dialogues of EC water initiatives, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE): Intersectoral dialogue on water-energy-food-ecosystems – untouched opportunities and potential in Central Asia.

Discussion, questions and answers.

Overview of the panel discussion: Mr Henry Wyes, CAREC

13.00 – 14.00

Lunch

14.00 – 15.30

Plenary session 4: Water Cooperation in Central Asia

Moderator: Dr Iskandar Abdullaev, Executive Director of CAREC

Opening remarks by the moderator: goals of the Forum and objectives of the plenary session on water cooperation

Statements (each 5 minutes):

1. Dr Sagit Ibatullin – Regional expert on water cooperation in Central Asia, Director of International Training center for Dam Safety: Transboundary water management in Central Asia: challenges, difficulties and opportunities;

2. Dr Dinara Ziganshina, Deputy Director Scientific Information Center of Interstate Commission for Water Coordination in Central Asia: Looking back at 25 years of transboundary water cooperation in Central Asia: the role of international law and regional institutions.

Statements on the theme: «State of Water Management in Central Asian Countries & Outlook to Regional Water Cooperation».

Heads of Water Management Departments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

Discussion, questions and answers

Overview of the plenary session: Mr Alexandr Nikolayenko, Regional Advisor, Transboundary Water Management in Central Asia Programme, GIZ

15.30 – 16.00

Coffee – break

16.00 – 18.00

Plenary session 4 (continuation): Water Cooperation in Central Asia 

Moderator: Mr Philipp Saprykin, Deputy Head of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia

Overview of new opportunities for strengthening regional water cooperation in Central Asia

Opening remarks by moderator

Statements (each 5 minutes):

1. Mr Gul Sharifov, Head of the Water Policy Department, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, the Republic of Tajikistan: UN International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”;

2. Dr Caroline Milow, Programme Director, Transboundary Water Management in Central Asia, GIZ GmbH: Cooperation opportunities – transboundary water resources management in Central Asia and the Berlin process;

3. Dr Iskandar Abdullaev, Executive Director of CAREC: Benefits of regional cooperation and costs of inaction;

4. Ms Elizabeth Yaari, Programme manager, Swedish International Water Institute (SIWI): Water Diplomacy possibilities to advance regional cooperation;

5. Ms Yekaterina Strikeleva, Chief of Party of the project Smart Waters: Water Cooperation in Central Asia – CAREC’s approach and expertise.

Discussion, questions and answers

Overview of the plenary session: Mr Farkhod Abdurakhmanov, Director, CAREC Country Office in Tajikistan

18.00 – 19.00

Summary of the Panel Discussion 2, 3 and 4 

Moderator: Dr Iskandar Abdullaev, Executive Director of CAREC

19.00 – 20.30

Dinner talk (by invitation)

Participants: Representatives of international organizations, heads of international departments of environmental and water agencies of the Central Asian states

Moderator: Dr Iskandar Abdullaev, Executive Director of CAREC

Day 3 – 07 June 2017

Technical segment – side events

9.00 – 11.30

Side event 1: Roundtable with the participation of MFA representatives and media of Central Asian states: The role of media in raising awareness about regional environmental matters 

Format: The moderator delivers a keynote statement at the beginning of the session. Then, the speakers will be invited to make short statements on critical aspects of respective themes and provide recommendations on ways to solve them and strengthen collaboration in the context of Central Asia. Each statement lasts 5-7 minutes in the interactive dialogue format. 

Moderator: H.E. Mr Makhtumkuli Akmuradov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and Ms Viktoriya Akopova, environmental expert

Statement by the moderator: «Awareness raising about the issues of solving environmental problems and knowledge propaganda through media».

Statements:

1. Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

2. Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic;

3. Representative of the Republic of Tajikistan;

4. Representative of Turkmenistan;

5. Representative the Republic of Uzbekistan;

6. Representative of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC).

Discussion, questions and answers

Summary of the session and closing remarks: H.E. Mr Makhtumkuli Akmuradov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan

9.00 - 10.30

Side event 2: Opportunities to address climate risks in Central Asia 

Within the session, representatives of Central Asian countries will present practical examples of risk reduction and management of climate risks in interactive dialogue.

Statements:

Ms Jamila Baydulloeva, Head of the Weather Forecast Centre, Director of the State Administration National Agency for Hydrometeorology of the Republic of Tajikistan;

Ms Natalia Agaltseva, Head of Department of projects preparation and monitoring, the Centre of Hydrometeorological Service at Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Further, the representatives of international and regional organizations will present planned events highlighting priorities and potential approaches to identification and reduction of climate risks in Central Asia.

Statements:

Mr Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, Head of Climate Change Adaptation, Global Environmental Finance Unit, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP;

Mr Philippe Ambrosi, Senior Environmental Economist, the World Bank;

Mr Atabek Umirbekov, Climate Change Specialist, CAREC;

Mr Jan Pokorný and Mr Vladimír Jirka, Researchers, Research Organization ENKI, o.p.s.

Moderators: Ms Gayane Minasyan, Lead Environment Specialist, World Bank and Ms Nailya Mustaeva, Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Program Manager, CAREC

9.00 – 10.30

Side event 3: Green investments as an opportunity for sustainable development

Within the side event, a panel discussion will be organized on the greening of the Silk Road Initiative and other investments in the region, and the Green Belt and Road Coalition will be presented.

Welcome remarks

Introduction to UN Environment’s work on greening the investment and Belt and Road initiative.

Mr Sheng Fulai, Senior Economist, UN Environment, (video-link)

•          Green Belt and Road Coalition

•          Regional engagement

Questions for discussion:

1)What Central Asian countries would expect from the Coalition?

2)How the stakeholders and governments would like to be involved?

Panel discussion members: country representatives, international and regional organizations

Closing remarks: Next steps for greening the investments and activities under the Green Belt and Road Platform; regional engagement opportunities

Moderators: Ms Natalia Alexeeva, Head of Central Asia sub-regional office, UN Environment and Ms Saltanat Zhakenova, Leading Specialist of the Environmental Management Programme, CAREC

10.30 – 11.00

Coffee break

11.00 – 12.30

Side event 4: Towards strengthened action on climate change adaptation in mountain regions of Central Asia 

Opening remarks

Speakers: Ms Natalia Alexeeva, Head of Central Asia sub-regional office, UN Environment and Mr Andre Fabian, Director of the Regional Programme for Sustainable and Climate Sensitive Land Use for Economic Development in Central Asia, German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Launch of the «Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the Central Asian Mountains» followed by questions and answers

Speakers: Ms Ieva Rucevska, Project Manager, Environmental Crime and Transboundary Waters (GRID-Arendal), Mr Ismail Dairov, Executive Director, the Regional Mountain Centre for Central Asia (RMCCA)

Evidence on the effectiveness of Ecosystem based adaptation (EbA): Ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change in high mountainous regions of Central Asia 

Speaker: Representative of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

«Towards the Strategic Guidance on Climate Change and Adaptation in the Central Asian Mountains» presentation followed by (panel) discussion

Speakers: Mr Matthias Jurek, Programme Officer, UN Environment and Mr Andre Fabian, Program Director, German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Open discussion with all participants led by moderators.

Closing remarks

Speakers: Ms Natalia Alexeeva, Head of Central Asia sub-regional office, UN Environment and and Mr Andre Fabian, Program Director, German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).

11.00 – 12.30

Side event 5: Lessons learned from assessing the water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus: approaches, findings and possible responses 

Within the session, participants will discuss the Nexus approach, the best practices and solutions will illustrate the potential benefit from intersectoral cooperation in Central Asia.

Opening remarks: Dr Iskandar Abdullaev, Executive Director of CAREC and Mr Jan-Louis Lavroff, Head of Cooperation, Delegation of the EU to the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Introduction to NEXUS

Ms Saltanat Zhakenova, Leading Specialist of the Environmental Management Programme, CAREC: Theory of Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystems Nexus;

Mr Peep Mardiste, Regional Coordinator, National policy dialogues under EU water initiatives, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE): Lessons learned from assessing the water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus: approaches, findings and possible response actions;

Mr Boris Erg, Director, International Union for Conservation of Nature in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (IUCN ECARO): Best international practices and implications for Central Asia.

Discussion

Closing remarks

Moderators: Ms Ludmila Kiktenko, Environmental Management Program Manager, CAREC and Mr Boris Erg, IUCN ECARO

12.00 – 13.00

Side event 6 (only by invitation): Meeting of heads of international departments, ministries/agencies of environment 

Opening remarks: Dr Iskandar Abdullaev, Executive Director of CAREC

Moderators: Mr Shakhboz Akhmedov, Manager of the Knowledge, Projects and Resource Management unit, CAREC and Mr Tolib Sultanov, Expert on cooperation with regional organisations, CAREC

Questions for discussion:

1. How to develop more sustained cooperation among international departments of environmental and water management agencies of Central Asian countries?

13.00 – 13.20

Official closure of the forum 

- Statement by the hosting country;

- Statement by CAREC: Overall results of the forum;

- Announcement of the next forum.

13.20 – 13.30

Adoption of the statements of the participants of the Central Asian International Environmental Forum and Turkmen representatives of environmental protection sphere to the President of Turkmenistan, Mr Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

15.00 – 17.00

Excursion and visit to museums for those who are free