Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 10 April 2025 – The Scientific Information Centre of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (SIC ICSD) participated in the final conference of the UNDP/Green Climate Fund project titled “Advancing the National Adaptation Planning Process in Turkmenistan,” held at the Yyldyz Hotel.
The conference convened a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from government agencies, international organizations, academia, and civil society. The discussions centered on strategic planning and international cooperation in climate change adaptation. Key project outcomes were presented, notably the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Roadmap and the Climate Finance Concept.
Photocredit to UNDP Turkmenistan
Special emphasis was placed on the next steps for implementing the NAP and developing Turkmenistan's adaptation agenda. International experts introduced pivotal concepts aimed at financing climate initiatives. A draft document on Turkmenistan's Green Taxonomy was unveiled, classifying economic activities that contribute to sustainable development and climate change mitigation. This was complemented by the Climate Finance Concept for Turkmenistan, designed to create favorable conditions for attracting investments into climate projects. Representatives from the Ministry of Finance and Economy discussed the financial and economic sector's activities aimed at sustainable development and the transition to a green economy in the medium and long term.
As part of its contribution to the project, SIC ICSD collaborated with the Scientific Information Centre of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (SIC ICWC) and UNDP Turkmenistan to develop a training manual titled “Integrating Climate Change Adaptation into Water Resources Planning in Turkmenistan.” The manual aims to enhance the professional capacity of specialists in water resource management and climate change adaptation. It covers topics such as legal aspects of water resource management, gender issues in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), the use of technical tools for water resource management, financing, and monitoring of adaptation measures.
SIC ICSD's participation in the conference and the development of the training manual underscore the importance of regional cooperation in addressing climate challenges. The project exemplifies the implementation of the Regional Environmental Programme for Sustainable Development in Central Asia, particularly Priority Area No. 1 related to SDG 4 “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all,” and Priority Area No. 4 related to SDG 13 “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.” The project's outcomes lay the groundwork for scaling up successful practices and strengthening sustainable natural resource management in the region.