On August 29, 2024, a national-level working meeting was held at the "Archabil" hotel in Ashgabat to prepare Turkmenistan's Fourth National Communication and First Biennial Updated Report to the UNFCCC. The meeting also included an analysis of the implementation of activities related to Turkmenistan's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement on climate change and the fulfillment of the Global Methane Pledge within the framework of the UNDP/ Ministry of Environmental Protection Project "Sustainable Cities in Turkmenistan: Integrated Development of Green Cities in Ashgabat and Avaza."
The meeting was attended by specialists from the ministries and departments of Turkmenistan, national experts, international organizations, as well as representatives of the private sector and the public. The project office of the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia in Turkmenistan was represented by the director of the project office, Mergen Kepbanov.
Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, and experts from the UNDP/ Ministry of Environmental Protection delivered reports. They presented information on the work of Turkmenistan's agencies in fulfilling the Global Methane Pledge, activities to improve national legislation on climate change, and preparations for participation in the 29th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan. The meeting also discussed the analysis of the implementation of activities and preparations for updating Turkmenistan's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement on climate change. Other important topics were also addressed, contributing to a comprehensive discussion and exchange of views among the participants.
These reports were an important part of the event, contributing to the exchange of experience and knowledge, as well as strengthening cooperation between various agencies and organizations.
The director of the project office of the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia in Turkmenistan, Mergen Kepbanov, noted that the meeting was very productive and that an important point of discussion was the memorandum of understanding signed in 2023 between Turkmenistan and UNEP. Under this memorandum, it is planned to open a Regional Center, which will serve as a regional coordination mechanism for the search, presentation, implementation, and application of climate technologies for the Central Asian region, using the existing experience and capabilities of the Climate Technology Center and Network in Turkmenistan.
Additional information:
Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the Project Office of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) in Turkmenistan, turkmenistan@carececo.org