Representatives of government agencies, environmental organizations, the scientific community, as well as non-governmental organizations and international development agencies gathered at the end of January in Almaty to exchange information and identify areas for joint action.
The Central Asian Conference on Climate Change was a continuation of the World Bank's knowledge exchange initiative in this area.The conference was conducted within the framework of the Program on Adaptation to Climate Change and Mitigation in the Aral Sea Basin, implemented with the assistance of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS).
The event was organized by the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC).Experts of the Executive Committee of IFAS, several departments, as well as public environmental associations represented our country.
During the meeting was stressed that Turkmenistan acts in the international arena as an active supporter of all measures taken by the international community to prevent possible climate changes and mitigate their consequences.
The priority tasks for our country presiding in IFAS are the development of a new Program of Action to assist the countries of the Aral Sea basin.It is also the improvement of the legal framework for the activities of the Fund, the regional legal and regulatory framework for water management and environmental protection, and the update of the Regional Action Plan for the Protection environment.
Our country, following international obligations, has prepared and submitted to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change three national reports on work in the field of curbing climate change processes.
The National Strategy for Climate Change, approved by the President of Turkmenistan, operates in the country. One of its provisions is the reduction of emissions, namely
mitigation, the other - adaptation, aimed at supporting the health of the population, the state of ecosystems, water and land resources, agriculture and forestry.The Program of Action on Adaptation and Mitigation of Climate Change was developed to implement the main provisions of the document.
The proposals are developed for various sectors of the economy that contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.According to expert estimates, the growth of the Turkmen economy will be accompanied by a decrease in specific energy consumption per unit of GDP and a high degree of utilization of associated petroleum gases.
Turkmenistan, on a regular basis, conducts a national inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, vulnerability assessment and mitigation work.Implementation of water-saving practices, expansion of artificial forest plantations, and construction of the Turkmen lake "Altyn Asyr" continue to be implemented in the country to normalize the operation of drainage systems, lower groundwater levels, improve land reclamation conditions, and enrich desert biodiversity.
The meeting emphasized that targeted joint actions to combat climate change and mitigate its consequences are in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Among other discussed topics are development of small-scale irrigation and water harvesting, protection of pastures, promotion of agricultural production in the face of climate change, increasing energy supply efficiency.
The exchange of experience and information at the regional level serves to intensify the work on the development and implementation of projects on climate change.
The winners of the regional photo contest "50 images of the consequences of climate change" within the framework of the forum were awarded in the following nominations: "The role of women in the sustainable use of natural resources", "the state of glaciers and water resources," and "the impact of climate on the welfare of rural areas."