On 24 July, 2023 in Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan, a meeting of representatives of Central Asian countries took place within the framework of the Regional Dialogue for Joint Preparations for the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The event, organized by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) with the support of GIZ, brought together nominated representatives from parliaments, ministries of foreign affairs and government agencies responsible for climate change issues from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The participants were provided with a detailed overview of the agenda of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, including goals, objectives, key activities, and a preliminary list of side events. During the Meeting, a joint analysis of the main trends and global climate negotiation processes was conducted, and the common position of the Central Asian countries on the joint organisation of a joint pavilion at the upcoming conference was confirmed.
The session included presentations by representatives of each country in the region, where they presented their national processes of preparation for COP28 and shared their proposals and initiatives on joint preparation for participation at COP28 Central Asia. In his speech, Oshurbaev M.T., Vice-Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, noting the need to unite the efforts of Central Asian countries on the margins of COP28, proposed to "organize, with the support and assistance of CAREC, a single negotiating group on adaptation financing in the region, as well as on issues of climate justice transition".
The meeting also contributed to developing a draft Regional Statement from Central Asian countries, which will be presented at the upcoming climate conference. The participants proposed to specify the directions in which the CA countries will work on adaptation and mitigation and to indicate the strategic areas for which climate investment is needed. These include the need to visualize the high vulnerability of the CA region, the problem of glaciers and development of mountainous regions, issues of "climate justice" in hydrocarbon substitution, early warning systems for climate-sensitive emergencies, climate ecosystem solutions, and promotion of the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for Central Asian countries.
"The Regional Dialogue presents a unique opportunity for the Central Asian countries to develop a common position and formulate a regional Statement that will express our common aspirations to address climate change for a sustainable future generation", - noted in his speech A. Temirkulov, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Concluding the Meeting, the participants adopted protocol decisions on organizing a joint pavilion of Central Asian countries at COP28, the structure and key topics of the Statement from the CA countries at COP28 and other important issues. Implementing these decisions will contribute to a stronger position of the region in the international arena and provide an opportunity to present a common vision of Central Asia on climate change.
The meeting was organized within the framework of "Regional dialogue of Central Asian countries on joint preparation for the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change" implemented by CAREC with the support of the GIZ project "Strengthening coordination and positioning of Central Asia in global climate processes".
The Regional Climate Dialogue of Central Asian countries held by CAREC is an important step in the cooperation of partners in combating global climate challenges. And this meeting emphasized the determination of Central Asian countries to actively participate in international initiatives on climate-resilient development and environmental conservation.
Additional information:
Dilovarsho Dustzoda – CAREC Programme Manager "Climate Change and Sustainable Energy" / CAMP4ASB Project Coordinator, recath_manager@carececo.org.
Vladimir Grebnev - Regional Climate Change Specialist, CAREC, cc_specialist@carececo.org.
