On 18 March 2022, a Meeting of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (ICSD IFAS) was convened in an online format, bringing together high-level representatives from environmental ministries, economic sector officials of Central Asian states, subsidiary bodies and affiliated organizations under ICSD, civil society representatives, and key international and regional development partners. On 17 March 2022, the ICSD Cosultative Council convened its preparatory meeting.
Objectives of the Meeting
The subsequent ICSD Meeting marked an important milestone in the organization’s work and in coordinating the efforts of the Central Asian countries in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development. During the meeting, participants reviewed the progress made in the implementation of the Regional Environmental Programme for Sustainable Development in Central Asia (REP4SD CA), summarized the outcomes of the Republic of Uzbekistan’s chairmanship of the ICSD, and officially transferred the chairmanship to the Republic of Kazakhstan. The meeting also addressed issues related to the adoption of the Roadmap for the implementation of REP4SD CA until 2030, including the monitoring mechanisms and performance evaluation indicators.
Photocredit to SIC ICSD in Tajikistan
Additional discussions focused on the potential establishment of a Regional Waste Management Centre in Dushanbe, representing a significant step toward the development of efficient waste management systems in the region. Another key item on the agenda was the revision of the Statute of the ICSD Scientific Information Centre (SIC ICSD), aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of environmental data collection and analysis.
Conclusions and Decisions
One of the main outcomes of the Meeting was the formal endorsement of the rotational principle for chairmanship within the ICSD, under which the Republic of Kazakhstan assumed the leadership of the Commission for the upcoming period. The Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan outlined key priorities for the coming years, with a focus on strengthening regional cooperation in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development.
Thus, the ICSD’s Meeting reaffirmed the commitment of Central Asian countries to the principles of sustainable development and environmental security. The decisions adopted are geared towards the implementation of long-term environmental strategies, the consolidation of regional cooperation, and the enhancement of environmental governance throughout the region.
Agenda of the ICSD Meeting (EN)
Agenda of the ICSD Consultative Council Meeting (EN)
List of Participants