Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 24-26 May 2016 – The 28th meeting of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD) under the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) convened in Ashgabat. The event brought together representatives of the Central Asian States, international organizations, regional partners, and members of the expert community to discuss key issues related to sustainable development, environmental protection, and interstate cooperation in the region.
Objectives of the ICSD Meeting
A key item on the agenda was the discussion of the ratification process of the Framework Convention on Environmental Protection for Sustainable Development by the Central Asian States. Participants also reviewed the ICSD budget formation and long-term financing mechanisms for environmental initiatives, as well as the prospects for the development of renewable energy sources in the region. Special attention was given to climate change adaptation, including a presentation of the UNEP/CAREC report, "Climate Change Adaptation in the Mountain Regions of Central Asia." Furthermore, participants considered mechanisms to enhance access to data on water and energy resources, environmental conditions, and hydrometeorological information, as outlined in a report by UNECE.
Outcomes and Decisions
The meeting resulted in a series of decisions aimed at strengthening regional cooperation on environmental issues and supporting sustainable development. A medium-term development strategy for renewable energy (RE) in Central Asia, prepared by the Central Asian Renewable Energy Centre with support from the European Union’s CASEP Programme, was endorsed. The head of the CAREC RE Centre was tasked with preparing proposals for expanding its country offices to be presented at the next ICSD meeting.
The ICSD took note of the UNEP/CAREC-prepared Report on climate change adaptation in mountain areas of Central Asia and recommended that countries submit their comments by 1 July 2016. UNEP and CAREC were requested to coordinate the organization of a regional seminar for finalizing the report in the second half of 2016.
Photocredit to SIC ICSD
The ICSD also acknowledged Turkmenistan’s update on consultations regarding the establishment of a Regional Climate Technology Centre. The Chair of ICSD was tasked with engaging in consultations with UNDP, UNEP, and other partners to ensure technical and financial support for the proposed Centre and to report back to ICSD members before the next meeting.
Participants recognized the progress achieved by the Kazakhstan branch of the ICSD Scientific Information Centre (SIC ICSD) and the ICSD Public Council in developing the ICSD EcoPortal (2015–2017), which serves as a regional knowledge platform in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The introduction of a document and knowledge management system (K-DMS) for use by ICSD structures was endorsed. The importance of continued technical and financial support by UNEP and GIZ for the EcoPortal, including the integration of K-DMS, was highlighted.
Photocredit to SIC ICSD
Acknowledging the relevance of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the ICSD requested UNEP to support the development of a regional SCP component as part of the EECCA Environment Strategy. It was also proposed that consultations with regional countries be conducted to assess the implementation of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on SCP in line with national priorities.
The ICSD welcomed progress on the project proposal “Strengthening Cooperation in Water Quality Management in Central Asia” under the priority area of water pollution. It also acknowledged UNECE’s initiative to conduct a training seminar on the monitoring of transboundary water quality.
The importance of the FAO regional project on integrated natural resource management in arid and saline agricultural lands of Central Asia and Turkey was recognized. Under the Central Asian Countries Initiative for Land Management (CACILM-2), the ICSD requested FAO to propose modalities for integrating project activities with the EECCA Environment Strategy implementation.
The ICSD endorsed a joint initiative by the IFAS Executive Committee, ICSD, UNEP Subregional Office, UNECE, and CAREC to support Central Asian countries' participation in the Eighth Ministerial Conference "Environment for Europe," to be held in Batumi, Georgia, from 8 to 10 June 2016. A regional side event titled “Greening the Economy and Sustainable Development in Central Asia – Achievements and Next Steps” was confirmed.
As part of efforts to expand international cooperation, memorandums of understanding were signed between SIC ICSD and GIZ, as well as between ICSD and UNEP.
The outcomes of the 28th ICSD meeting reaffirmed the commitment of Central Asian countries to sustainable development, the expansion of international cooperation, and the pursuit of effective solutions to ensure environmental security in the region.