Representatives of the project office of the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC) in Turkmenistan participated in the discussion of the Fourth National Communication on Climate Change.
On February 16, 2026, a final working meeting was held in Ashgabat to present a revised version of Turkmenistan's Fourth National Communication (NC4/NC4) on climate change under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
“The Project Office of the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC) in Turkmenistan was invited to participate in the event as a regional platform with experience in assisting Central Asian countries in developing climate policy and strengthening interstate cooperation”, reported Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan.
According to him, the meeting provided an important platform for meaningful dialogue between relevant ministries and departments, national experts, and international partners. The focus is on the key results of the preparation of the Fourth National Communication and further steps to improve Turkmenistan's climate reporting system.
Opening of the meeting and strategic guidelines
Serdar Eyeberenov, Head of the Meteorology Department of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, delivered a welcoming speech.
Mahtumkuli Akmuradov, Adviser on Environmental Issues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, also delivered a welcoming speech, emphasizing Turkmenistan's active position in promoting regional climate cooperation. In his speech, he presented a set of strategic initiatives aimed at establishing sustainable regional mechanisms for addressing climate challenges. In particular, the promotion of the initiative to create a specialized Regional Center for climate technologies and adaptation for Central Asian countries was noted. It is expected that the center will become a platform for the introduction of modern solutions in the field of adaptation of agriculture and water resources management in the context of climate change, as well as strengthen scientific and practical exchange between the countries of the region. The special relevance of such a mechanism is emphasized against the background of the reduction of water resources and changes in the precipitation regime.
Continuing the theme of regional consolidation of efforts, Mahtumkuli Akmuradov also presented an initiative to establish a Regional center for combating Desertification in Central Asia. It was noted that Turkmenistan intends to promote this direction in close cooperation with the competent structures of the United Nations (UN) and international partners. The new center is designed to help unite regional potential and strengthen cooperation in the field of terrestrial ecosystem conservation, especially in the context of increasing land degradation processes.
Special attention was paid to the promotion of the Caspian Environmental Initiative, focused on the conservation of the ecosystem of the Caspian Sea and the development of a sustainable international platform for interaction on environmental issues in the region. The holding of the Caspian Environmental Forum in 2026 has been designated as a practical step towards the implementation of the initiative.
Regional Environmental Summit 2026: a platform for joint solutions
In continuation of his speech, Mahtumkuli Akmuradov also recalled the upcoming regional events of strategic importance for strengthening climate cooperation. In particular, the holding of a Regional Environmental Summit in Astana on April 22-24, 2026, was noted. The 8th Central Asian Climate Change Conference (CACCC-2026) is scheduled to be held within the framework of the Summit. CACCC-2026 is organized by CAREC in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and international partners.
The event is aimed at strengthening cooperation between the Central Asian countries in developing joint climate solutions and increasing the sustainability of the region.
Presentations were also made by national experts Gurbangeldy Allaberdyyev, Nazar Allaberdyyev, Leyla Khajimuradova, and Irina Atamuradova.
In their reports, the experts provided detailed information on the preparation of the Fourth National Communication, including the organization of interdepartmental interaction, the process of receiving and taking into account comments from government agencies, as well as the coordination of the work of relevant structures.
Special attention was paid to the issues of the national inventory of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, the preparation of sections on climate change mitigation measures, as well as other key thematic areas included in the structure of the document.
It was emphasized that the preparation of the Fourth National Communication is carried out in accordance with Turkmenistan's international obligations under the UNFCCC and is aimed at ensuring transparency, reliability, and completeness of the information provided.
Preparation of the Fourth National Communication and updating of the NDC
During the meeting, the results of the national inventory of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, mitigation and adaptation issues, as well as the process of finalizing the document, taking into account comments from government agencies, were presented.
The UNFCCC National Coordinator, Batyr Ballyev, announced the completion of the technical preparation of the document, its translation into Turkmen, and its subsequent submission to the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan for approval.
Special attention is paid to updating the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of Turkmenistan within the framework of the Paris Agreement. It was noted that achieving the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030 requires further improvement of the monitoring and reporting system, as well as increased international cooperation.
The role of CAREC: regional expertise and a dialogue platform
CAREC's participation in this meeting reflects its systematic work to support Central Asian countries in developing climate policy, strengthening regional cooperation, and sharing experiences.
“For CAREC, participation in such events is an opportunity to link national processes with the regional agenda. We see the importance of synchronizing the preparation of national communications and the updating of national communications with regional initiatives, and we are ready to promote the exchange of experience, attract international partners, and strengthen dialogue between the countries of Central Asia,” noted Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan.
The importance of the meeting for further cooperation
The final working meeting was not only a stage in finalizing the preparation of the Fourth National Communication, but also a platform for discussing further mechanisms for regional cooperation in the face of increasing climate challenges.
For CAREC, participation in the event made it possible to strengthen coordination with national partners and indicate readiness for further assistance in the implementation of Turkmenistan's climate priorities at the national and regional levels.
Дополнительная информация:
Мерген Кепбанов ,- директор проектного офиса РЭЦЦА в Туркменистане, turkmenistan@carececo.org