On 4 March 2024, Ashgabat hosted a forum of the OSCE and Ministers of Environmental Protection of Central Asian countries on issues related to climate change and sustainable development.
OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid commented on the outcomes of the meeting in an interview with the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper.
Here are the key points mentioned by Ms.Schmid:
• Joint action and knowledge sharing: Participants reaffirmed their commitment to tackling climate risks through joint projects, technology transfer, and knowledge exchange. The OSCE stands ready to support constructive initiatives for regional and individual country development.
• Sharing best practices, technologies, and standards for smart cities was highlighted. Arkadag, Turkmenistan, serves as a model for reducing CO2 emissions through smart city development. National greening programs were also recognized for their crucial environmental benefits.
• Addressing security risks from glaciers melting: The OSCE will continue to support mountainous regions of Central Asia by developing a strategy and implementation plan for addressing climate risks associated with melting glaciers. This will involve specific cross-border initiatives.
• An ongoing OSCE project focuses on ensuring the safety of energy infrastructure from extreme weather events. Recommendations will be presented at a regional seminar later this year In Vienna.
• Expanding climate change and environmental protection education, particularly for youth, is planned. Additionally, participants pledged to increase women’s participation in the climate agenda.
Expressing gratitude to Turkmenistan for hosting the successful meeting, Ms. Schmid emphasized productive discussions on critical issues and outlined solutions. The OSCE remains committed to continued support for Central Asian nations in both bilateral and regional formats. ///nCa, 6 March 2024