The collaborative side event «Greening the Economy and Sustainable Development in Central Asia-Current Achievements and the Ways Forward» - on the occasion of the Eighth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference.
Batumi, 8-10 June 2016 - The Eighth Ministerial Conference «Environment for Europe» (EfE) held focusing on two priority themes – "greening the economy in the pan-European region" and "improving the air quality for a better environment and human health" in Batumi, Georgia. CAREC with partners organized a collaborative side event named «Greening the Economy and Sustainable Development in Central Asia-Current Achievements and the Ways Forward».
The event organized jointly by CAREC and Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD), the United Nations Environment Programme, The Regional Office for Europe (ROE UNEP), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
Central Asia is making efforts in greening the economy, as well as strives to accomplish goals boost economic and social development, in the context of urgent need to respond to the challenges on climate change, degradation of the environment and limited resources. Participated Central Asian States revisited their achievements, shared lessons learned and discussed and agreed upon further actions in cooperative regional and international processes.
At the beginning of the side-event, an interactive discussion «progress towards greening economy and reaching EfE targets on the national level» was organized which was moderated by CAREC Executive Director Dr Iskandar Abdullaev, along with active participation of representatives of government agencies from Central Asian countries. Presentations raised a number of questions which sprang interesting interactive discussions.
The following interactive discussion: «review of regional initiatives and activities to support green economy and EfE process» was moderated by Director and Regional Representative of UNEP ROE, Jan Dusik.
Key speakers of the side-event were: Deputy Chairman EC-IFAS Shukhrat Talipov, ICSD Secretariat Batyr Mamedov, Head of Sub-regional Office for Central Asia Natalia Alexeeva. They informed the progress achieved within ASBP-III and achievements EC-IFAS, updated regional action plan environmental protection «green» economy in the context of Sustainable development goals (SDG); presented the results of the regional study of «green» economy in relation to SDG.
Head of Environmental management Programme, CAREC Lyudmila Kiktenko introduced the regional perspectives on priorities Central Asian countries, where were demonstrated some examples of region, providing a review of the progress made. Following the presentation, there was an open discussion of future activities in the Central Asian region.
This was followed by interactive discussion of priorities and future activities in region moderated by Regional Advisor on Environment, UNECE Bo Libert.
The event brought together representatives of intergovernmental organizations, governmental delegations, regional environmental centres, non-governmental organizations, media, business sector and other representatives of civil society.