Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan, 5 September 2023 – The 32nd meeting of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD), organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, convened representatives from environmental agencies of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as officials from Central Asian ministries of economy, international organizations, and development partners.
Preceding the ICSD meeting, the third session of the ICSD Advisory Council was held on 4–5 September 2023, addressing key issues related to regional cooperation in environmental protection and sustainable development.
Photocredit to SIC ICSD
Objectives of the ICSD Meeting
In his opening remarks, ICSD Chair and Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yerlan Nyssanbayev, emphasized the importance of consolidating regional efforts to address environmental challenges. He noted that the current meeting aimed to review the implementation of the ICSD Work Plan for 2022–2024, discuss the establishment of a Regional Waste Management Centre in Dushanbe, assess the progress of the Regional Environmental Protection Programme for Sustainable Development in Central Asia (REP4SD CA), and define the Commission's priorities and future directions ahead of the Summit of the Heads of State of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), scheduled for 14–15 September 2023 in Dushanbe.
Conclusions and Decisions Adopted
During the meeting, the Chair's report on the implementation of the ICSD Work Plan for 2022–2024 was taken into account. It was instructed to consider the status of the ICSD Scientific Information Centre branch in the Republic of Kazakhstan, with a view to establishing it as an independent entity or branch in accordance with the ICSD Regulations, ensuring budgetary funding from Kazakhstan's contributions to IFAS.
Special attention was given to waste management issues. The information from the Republic of Tajikistan regarding the establishment of the Regional Waste Management Centre in Dushanbe was acknowledged, the Centre's Charter was approved, and an interim director was appointed.
To enhance youth participation in the regional environmental agenda, the Uzbek initiative to hold a Central Asian Youth Environmental Kurultai was supported. The ICSD Scientific Information Centre branch in Uzbekistan was tasked with developing a draft concept for the Kurultai and presenting it at the next ICSD meeting.
The Commission also discussed the progress of REPPSD CA implementation. Environmental agencies of the region and ICSD structural units were instructed to provide the ICSD Chair with information on the programme's implementation for the preparation of a mid-term review. Additionally, ICSD Advisory Council Member from Central Asian NGOs, A.K. Kapasov, was tasked with submitting information on NGO participation in REPPSD CA implementation and proposing the expansion of the Central Asian NGO Advisory Council's composition by the end of 2023.
Attention was also given to information support for ICSD activities. The ICSD Scientific Information Centre was instructed to develop proposals for restoring the official ICSD Central Asia website.
The meeting concluded with the signing ceremony of ICSD decisions aimed at further strengthening regional cooperation and implementing environmental initiatives in Central Asia.