Nukus, Republic of Uzbekistan, 24 October 2019 – The 30th meeting of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD) of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) was held within the framework of the high-level international conference "The Aral Sea Region – A Zone of Environmental Innovations and Technologies."
The meeting brought together delegations from the Central Asian countries, representatives of international organizations, and experts engaged in environmental protection and sustainable development in the region.
Photo credit: GIZ
Objectives of the Meeting
The main objective of the meeting was to address key issues of regional environmental cooperation, including the endorsement and implementation of the Regional Environmental Programme for Sustainable Development in Central Asia (REP4SD CA), and to formalize the transfer of chairmanship of the ICSD.
In addition to the approval of REP4SD CA and agreement on the steps for its further implementation, participants discussed mechanisms for strengthening regional collaboration in the areas of environmental protection, climate change adaptation, and water resource management. Strategic directions for enhanced partnerships with international organizations were also considered, with a focus on mobilizing technical and financial support for the region.
Conclusions and Decisions
During the meeting, a number of key decisions were adopted, including the formal transfer of ICSD chairmanship from Turkmenistan to Uzbekistan for the 2019–2021 period.
Alongside the endorsement of REP4SD CA, the ICSD approved the establishment of an ICSD Advisory Council to coordinate the implementation of the programme. It was decided that the Advisory Council would also review the draft “Roadmap” for the implementation of REP4SD CA.
The meeting further adopted the Rules of Procedure for the preparation and conduct of ICSD meetings and initiated discussions on updating the statutes of the ICSD, its Scientific Information Centre, its Secretariat, and the regional centres operating under the ICSD.
As part of the programme, participants visited the city of Muynak, where they became acquainted with the current situation in the Aral Sea region, including reforestation projects and other ecological restoration efforts. The session concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the ICSD, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), aimed at enhancing cooperation in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development.
The 30th ICSD meeting marked a significant milestone in strengthening regional cooperation and set clear priorities for joint environmental and sustainable development efforts across Central Asia. Participants highlighted the importance of coordinated action in addressing the region’s environmental challenges and reaffirmed their commitment to the effective implementation of the decisions adopted.
Agenda of the ICSD Meeting (RU)
List of Participants
Decisions 1-5