Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan, 28 March 2024 – The 33rd Meeting of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (ICSD IFAS) convened with the participation of delegations from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, alongside representatives from international organizations and partners engaged in environmental protection and sustainable development in Central Asia. Notable attendees included representatives from the IFAS Executive Committee, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), among others. The diverse composition of participants underscored the significance of regional cooperation in environmental protection, sustainable management of natural resources, and climate change adaptation.
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Photocredit to SIC ICSD archives
Objectives of the ICSD Meeting
The primary objective of the meeting was to review the ICSD’s activities over the 2022–2024 period under Kazakhstan’s chairmanship and to discuss priorities for further collaboration among regional countries in environmental policy, water resources management, climate change adaptation, and the implementation of international initiatives. Delegations examined the report on the ICSD’s work over the past two years, deliberated on the current state of environmental cooperation, and explored mechanisms for implementing decisions from the previous Commission meeting. A key focus was defining new directions for ICSD activities for 2024–2026, including planning events aimed at enhancing cooperation within sustainable development frameworks and preparing for the ICSD’s 30th anniversary.
Conclusions and Desicions
During the meeting, the decision was made to transfer the ICSD Chairmanship to the Republic of Tajikistan for 2024-2026, and Kazakhstan’s Activity Report as the outgoing chair was approved. Participants expressed gratitude to the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yerlan Nyssanbayev, for his effective leadership during this period.
A significant outcome was the approval of the ICSD Work Plan for 2024-2026, requiring all structural subdivisions of the commission to submit their work plans by 15 May 2024. Additionally, a proposal was endorsed to hold a jubilee ICSD meeting in 2024, dedicated to the Commission’s 30th anniversary, involving international partners and organizing a specialized conference. The meeting also supported the development of scientific cooperation among Central Asian countries and academic institutions, as well as expanding civil society participation in implementing the Regional Environmental Programme for Sustainable Development for Central Asia (REP4SD CA).
Participants emphasized the necessity of active international engagement in environmental protection and climate change adaptation, highlighting the ICSD’s decisions as crucial steps toward achieving the region’s sustainable development.
The ICSD meeting was preceded by an Consultative Council Meeting on 27 March, which addressed issues of environmental protection and economic development.