CAREC supports the post-Paris process in Central Asia

18 April 2017

The population of Central Asia constantly faced with the consequences of climate change - lack of drinking water, melting of glaciers, occurrence of natural disasters. The governments pay close attention to these issues. For example, Tajikistan annually directs 5% of GDP to combat natural disasters. However, the regional process of adaptation to climate change requires a close connection of all stakeholders for the most effective cooperation.

In this regard, on April 17-18, 2017, Almaty hosts a regional technical workshop on identifying knowledge needs for climate change mitigation in the context of the global post-Paris process in Central Asia.

Experts from the Central Asian countries, representatives of state bodies, NGOs along with speakers form international organizations such as the World Bank, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

During first day, participants discussed the realities and global agenda of climate change with an emphasis on recent changes in the rhetoric of international climate policy. Sessions were built from the general to the particular: from the Paris Agreement to the study of regional agenda of Central Asia. After the report on global climate processes, representatives of the countries made presentations on the implementation of their national climate policies, including the progress of their activities in response to obligations to the UN.

In addition, the program includes discussions on low-carbon and sustainable development, green growth, economic evaluation.

For example, Natalia Alexeeva, Head of the UNEP Office in Central Asia, presented data on the approximate cost of adaptation to climate change for developing countries: "According to recent estimates, it will be 270-500 billion US dollars per year – quintuples the preliminary figures".

The second day of the seminar is devoted to a detailed discussion of climate policy planning in the field of adaptation to climate change and the coverage of the first results of the regional needs assessment for climate knowledge and information that were identified during the national consultations of the CAMP4ASB project.

Interview with participants