Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 16-18 June 2015 – The 27th Meeting of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (ICSD IFAS) was convened in Ashgabat. The event brought together representatives of all five Central Asian States, alongside international and regional organizations engaged in the promotion of sustainable development and environmental protection. Delegations from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan participated, as well as representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), the World Bank, the European Union, the Executive Committee of IFAS, among others.
Objectives of the ICSD Meeting
The primary objective of the meeting was to advance the regional cooperation agenda in the fields of sustainable development and environmental governance. Participants engaged in discussions on strengthening the institutional framework and enhancing the coordinating role of ICSD within the region. In this context, the meeting reviewed the outcomes of the endorsement of the Programme for the implementation of recommendations aimed at improving the effectiveness of intergovernmental cooperation on issues related to sustainable development and environmental protection.
Photocredit to SIC ICSD
The deliberations also addressed a range of regional priorities, including climate change, waste management, and adaptation in mountainous areas. Particular emphasis was placed on the prospects for promoting a green economy and the deployment of renewable energy across the region. Participants reviewed proposals on the activities of the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy for Central Asia, as well as initiatives to enhance cooperation between ICSD and the International Centre for Environmental Technologies under UNEP, in alignment with the Priority areas of REAP.
Additionally, the meeting provided a platform for dialogue on ICSD’s collaboration with UNECE concerning the regional implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and on mobilizing resources for the Framework Convention on Environmental Protection for Sustainable Development in Central Asia. The meeting also considered ongoing UNEP-led initiatives, the World Bank’s CAMP4CA programme, and international proposals concerning the establishment of a United Nations Regional Centre for Climate Technologies.
Outcomes and Decisions
Following comprehensive deliberations, participants endorsed the Work Plans of the ICSD and its affiliated bodies for the 2015-2016 period. The approved plans include measures to strengthen coordination mechanisms and improve the monitoring of REAP implementation. Particular attention was given to the modernization of the ICSD EcoPortal, and to enhancing digital infrastructure for environmental data sharing and cooperation among Central Asian States.
The ICSD Secretariat was mandated to initiate the development of regulatory documentation governing the procedures for convening ICSD meetings and the modalities for reporting. Furthermore, the Secretariat was requested to undertake consultations with the Governments of Central Asia, UNDP, UNEP, and other relevant stakeholders on the establishment of a Regional Centre for Climate Change Technologies.
A dedicated session was held to consider the initiative of the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) entitled “The Economics of Land Degradation,” and its potential application across Central Asian countries with the support of ICSD. Participants also expressed support for a joint UNEP-UNECE initiative to prepare a regional assessment on green economy and air quality in Central Asia, within the framework of the post-2015 development agenda and the SDGs. This assessment will serve as part of ICSD’s preparatory work for participation in the “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conference, scheduled to be held in June 2016 in Batumi, Georgia.
A key highlight of the meeting was the formal handover of the ICSD Chairmanship from the Republic of Tajikistan to Turkmenistan. The incoming Chair reaffirmed its commitment to advancing regional cooperation in environmental governance and sustainable development, and to further strengthening partnerships with international organizations.