The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) is actively supporting the implementation of the climate agenda across the region. Central Asian countries are moving from ambitious declarations to concrete actions aimed at reducing emissions, developing sustainable energy, and adapting to climate change. This was emphasized by Dilovarsho Dustzoda, Manager of the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Programme at CAREC, during the recent China–Central Asia Forum held in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
The forum was jointly organized by Lanzhou University (China) and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Kazakhstan).
In his remarks, Dilovarsho Dustzoda noted that all five countries of the region—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—are actively stepping up their efforts in addressing climate change. These countries have announced climate targets under their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 2.0) to the Paris Agreement, are participating in global initiatives, and are implementing reforms aimed at sustainable development and emissions reduction.
NDC 2.0 Commitments of Central Asian Countries
The CAREC Programme Manager for Climate Change and Sustainable Energy provided a brief overview of the commitments of Central Asian countries under NDC 2.0:
Kazakhstan:
Unconditional target: reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15% from 1990 levels by 2030.
Conditional target: up to 25% reduction with international support.
Carbon neutrality goal by 2060.
Kyrgyzstan:
Unconditional target: 13.75% reduction from 2010 levels by 2025.
Conditional target: up to 30.89% with international support.
Carbon neutrality goal by 2050.
Tajikistan:
Conditional target: 30–40% reduction from 1990 levels by 2030.
Emphasis on hydropower development and reforestation.
Turkmenistan:
Conditional target: 20% reduction from 2010 levels by 2030.
Plans to develop renewable energy despite the dominant role of natural gas.
Uzbekistan:
Target: reduce emissions by 35% per unit of GDP from 2010 levels by 2030.
Carbon neutrality goal by 2050.
Dilovarsho Dustzoda also highlighted that all Central Asian countries have joined the Global Methane Pledge, aiming to reduce global methane emissions by 30% by 2030.
At the same time, he noted that the region faces challenges in terms of financing and access to technologies, stressing the need for support from the international climate community.
Strategic Regional Cooperation
Central Asia’s geographic features—its landlocked position, desert, semi-desert, steppe, and mountainous landscapes, transboundary water resources, and arid zones—make the region particularly vulnerable to climate change. This calls for coordinated regional efforts to effectively address climate-related challenges.
Recognizing the importance of strategic regional alignment, Central Asian countries have developed a Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, which includes four strategic directions:
- Strengthening regional coordination;
- Creating mechanisms for the development and implementation of adaptation projects;
- Enhancing adaptive capacity;
- Developing systems for monitoring, information exchange, and forecasting.
Regional cooperation in Central Asia plays a crucial role in the strategic fight against climate change, enabling the development of coordinated measures for water resource management, sustainable land use, and the prevention of environmental disasters.
Joint initiatives enhance the region’s position at international climate forums and help attract investment and technology for both mitigation and adaptation. Collective actions also amplify Central Asia’s voice on the global stage, providing better access to international support and cutting-edge solutions.
At key platforms such as the Central Asia Pavilions at the UNFCCC Conferences of the Parties, the Samarkand Climate Forum 2025, the International Conference “Global Mountain Dialogue”, the 2025 Glacier Conservation Conference, and the upcoming Regional Climate Summit 2026, the region's countries are addressing critical topics including green economy, biodiversity, clean energy, sustainable cities, scientific innovations, glacier preservation, and resilient mountain development, as well as mitigating the socio-economic consequences of glacier melt and strengthening early warning systems for disasters.
“Central Asian countries are no longer just setting climate goals—they are acting,” concluded Dilovarsho Dustzoda, CAREC’s Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Programme Manager.
Contact Information:
Dilovarsho Dustzoda
- Manager, Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Programme, CAREC, recath_manager@carececo.org