Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan, 27 May 2024 – A representative of the Secretariat of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD) participated in the First Meeting of the Regional Working Group (RWG) on the Implementation of the Regional Strategy on Climate Change Adaptation in Central Asia (RSCCA), held within the framework of the Central Asian Climate Change Conference (CACCC-2024). The meeting was convened as the parallel session entitled “Foundations of Adaptation in Central Asia: From Planning to Action” under the Green Central Asia initiative with the support of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
The meeting brought together representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, line ministries and government agencies of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of international organizations, international financial institutions, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), the ICSD, and other development partners supporting the implementation of the Regional Strategy on Climate Change Adaptation.
The primary objective of the inaugural meeting of the Regional Working Group was to discuss practical mechanisms for implementing the Regional Strategy, which was jointly developed by the five Central Asian countries with expert support from the Green Central Asia programme, endorsed by the Governments of the region, and officially presented to the international community during the Twenty-eighth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-28) in December 2023.
During the meeting, representatives of the five Central Asian States presented their national perspectives on the implementation of the Regional Strategy, identified priority areas for joint action, and discussed mechanisms for coordinating future activities. Particular attention was given to the establishment of the Regional Working Group as a permanent platform for coordinating regional cooperation on climate change adaptation, as well as to the creation of the Secretariat of the Regional Strategy, which is intended to provide institutional support for its implementation.
A key item on the agenda was the discussion of the draft Terms of Reference for the Secretariat of the Regional Strategy. Representatives of the participating countries exchanged views on its organizational structure, functions, operating principles, and potential mechanisms for cooperation with national government institutions and international partners. Participants emphasized that an effective Secretariat would serve as an important instrument for strengthening regional coordination, facilitating information exchange, promoting the development of joint initiatives, and mobilizing international technical and financial support.
The representative of the ICSD Secretariat actively participated in the expert discussions, highlighting the importance of building upon existing regional cooperation mechanisms to facilitate the practical implementation of the Regional Strategy. During the discussions, the role of the ICSD as an intergovernmental platform for coordinating environmental policy among the Central Asian States, promoting interstate dialogue, and integrating climate change adaptation into regional sustainable development processes was underscored.
At the conclusion of the meeting, participants agreed on the initial steps for launching the activities of the Regional Working Group, discussed the key elements of the future work plan for implementing the Strategy, and adopted a set of agreed conclusions outlining the next stages of the Strategy's institutional development. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of close cooperation among the countries of the region, international organizations, and financial institutions to ensure the effective implementation of the agreed priorities.
The participation of the ICSD Secretariat in the First Meeting of the Regional Working Group is fully consistent with the Commission's mandate to promote regional cooperation in the fields of environmental protection and sustainable development. It also contributes to the implementation of the climate-related priorities of the Regional Environmental Programme for Sustainable Development in Central Asia (REP4SD) 2020-2030, particularly those aimed at strengthening regional cooperation on climate change, enhancing institutional coordination, and supporting the implementation of climate adaptation measures across Central Asia.
The event supports the achievement of:
| Priority Area of REP4SD No 4 dedicated to SDG 13: “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts” |
| 4.1 Development of a Regional Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation taking into account the context of Central Asian ecosystems and climate risk reduction, development of a unified regional vision, information exchange between national focal points of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and other stakeholders. |