Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 3 April 2014 - With the support of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, the 25th meeting of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (ICSD/IFAS) was held in Dushanbe. The meeting brought together over 50 representatives from environmental ministries and agencies of the Central Asian countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - as well as international partners, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Central Asia Programme of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the WECOOP project and others.
Objectives of the ICSD Meeting
The meeting focused on strengthening the ICSD’s operational mechanisms, enhancing regional environmental cooperation, and advancing the institutional foundation for sustainable development in Central Asia. Participants confirmed the rules of procedure and delegation credentials and reviewed the implementation of previously adopted decisions.
Particular attention was given to institutional development. Participants discussed the draft Assessment Study and the Roadmap aimed at enhancing the legal and institutional framework for regional cooperation within the ICSD mandate. These documents serve as a strategic foundation for medium-term planning and coordination among the countries of the region in the field of environmental protection for the 2014–2018 period.
A key item on the agenda was the proposal to establish a Working Group on water pollution — a priority area under the Regional Environmental Action Plan for Central Asia (REAP). The participants supported the UNECE’s proposal and agreed to develop the draft Terms of Reference and Working Group mandate for further consideration.
The promotion of green economy principles in the region also featured prominently in the discussions. Initiatives for collecting best practices, launching training programmes, and creating an online platform through the ICSD Scientific-Information Centre (SIC ICSD) were considered. Delegates expressed interest in expanding engagement with international green initiatives, including the “Green Bridge” Partnership Programme.
The meeting also addressed the revitalization of the Regional Mountain Centre of Central Asia and its participation in international climate adaptation projects. New forms of collaboration with UNEP, CAREC and other partners were discussed in the areas of biodiversity conservation, waste management and sustainable natural resource use.
Conclusions and Decisions
Participants reviewed priority areas of ICSD activity and agreed on a set of actions to strengthen regional cooperation in environmental protection and sustainable development in Central Asia.
The meeting took note of the report by the Chair of the ICSD on the implementation of previous decisions during Tajikistan’s chairmanship. This reaffirmed the commitment of Central Asian countries to enhancing cooperative mechanisms within the ICSD framework.
The establishment of a Working Group on water pollution under the REAP was supported, recognizing the need for a coordinated and systemic approach. Participants instructed SIC ICSD, in cooperation with relevant agencies and partners, to develop draft Terms of Reference and a proposed mandate for the Working Group.
Appreciation was expressed to UNECE and the UNEP Regional Office for Europe for preparing the Assessment Study on strengthening the ICSD’s institutional development. The draft document was adopted as a basis, with countries invited to submit comments and proposals. The Roadmap for institutional reform implementation (2014-2018) was also endorsed, and its finalization assigned ahead of the next ICSD meeting. Planned activities under the Roadmap include regional workshops on establishing an environmental information space, sustainability indicators, and donor coordination.
The ICSD Scientific-Information Centre presented proposals for promoting green economy cooperation, including the development of an online platform for sharing best practices and the launch of educational initiatives. Participants supported deeper regional engagement on green transformation and noted the importance of participation in international mechanisms such as the Green Bridge Programme.
Further, the meeting reviewed international cooperation efforts involving UNEP, CAREC, the Regional Mountain Centre and others. Ongoing and prospective projects in waste management, biodiversity and climate adaptation were discussed. The initiative to sign a memorandum of understanding between SIC ICSD and CAREC was supported, along with enhanced coordination for regional environmental strategies. The importance of attracting international technical and financial support for the sustainable implementation of ICSD activities was highlighted.
The Dushanbe meeting marked an important milestone in strengthening the coordinating role of ICSD and advancing sustainable environmental solutions to address the region’s pressing challenges.