The Central Asian International Environmental Forum has started in Ashgabat
The Central Asian International Environmental Forum has started in Ashgabat on June 5th, 2017. Government representatives of five Central Asian countries, international and regional organizations, environmental leaders and leading experts gathered in Turkmenistan to participate in the Forum. The Forum is organized by the State Committee for Environmental Protection and Land Resources of Turkmenistan and the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC).
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The aim of the forum is to strengthening a comprehensive dialogue on environmental issues between government agencies, international community, academia and business structures in Central Asia to consolidate joint efforts and form a common vision for sustainable development of the region.
The forum will last three days, during which the participants will discuss the challenges and opportunities for cooperation in the field of water resources management, climate change, and ways to harmonize the legal framework. The main theme of the forum is "Climate change and water cooperation in the context of sustainable development in Central Asia".
Discussions of the day
The forum was opened by the congratulatory speech of the President of Turkmenistan, read by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, Mr. Esenmyrat Orazgeldyew. In his speech, Mr. Berdimuhamedow congratulated the participants of the forum and the employees of the environmental sector on World Environment Day, noting that the preservation of harmonious coexistence with nature, respect for the environment are part of both the ancient Turkmen traditions and the modern environmental policy of the country. Examples of this policy were further shared by Mr. Batyrmurad Orazmuradov, Chairman of the State Committee for Environmental Protection and Land Resources of Turkmenistan: comprehensive work on the creation of forest zones, prevention of salinization of lands, combating desertification, ensuring environmental safety, Turkmenistan's participation in a number of international environmental agreements.
Further, the Heads of delegations of Central Asia and the Executive Director of CAREC, Dr. Iskandar Abdullaev addressed the participants of the forum with welcoming speeches.
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"The issues raised at the Central Asian International Environmental Forum are equally relevant and strategically important for the Central Asian region: climate change and water cooperation in the context of sustainable development in Central Asia - areas in which countries should unite in the way of regional cooperation and adequate response to environmental challenges of our time," concluded Dr. Abdullaev.
During the first day, the participants of the CAIEF will continue discussing the possibilities for environmental cooperation in the field of climate change and water resources and the legal framework of countries in the field of ecology.
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Historical background
In this context, the Central Asian International Environmental Forum (CAIEF) serves as a multilateral platform that promotes environmental sustainability in the region, identifying joint processes and actions by linking them with the global environmental agenda.
The Forum was initiated on the basis of the results of the international conference "Cooperation on Environment and Sustainable Development in Central Asia" dedicated to the 15th anniversary of CAREC held on June 21, 2016. CAEF-2016 gathered the ministerial level of representatives of Central Asian countries, international partners dealing with issues of the environment and water resources. The high-level group with their participation decided to hold an annual forum in the capitals of the countries of the region as the highest-level environmental event for Central Asia.
In 2017, Turkmenistan has become the host country.