UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

10/09/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/10/2024 07:14

Climate change and the cryosphere in Central Asia at the heart of a workshop in Turkmenistan

Ashgabat, 9 October - A national workshop took place in Ashgabat from 8 to 9 October 2024, as part of the GEF-UNDP-UNESCO project «Strengthening the Resilience of Central Asian Countries by Enabling Regional Cooperation to Assess Glacio-nival Systems to Develop Integrated Methods for Sustainable Development and Adaptation to Climate Change». This event marked the conclusion of a series of national workshops held in the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, building upon discussions initiated at the regional workshop in Almaty in April 2024.

Collaborative efforts for climate resilience

The event brought together cryosphere research experts, data management specialists, and policymakers. The event was conducted using the GEF IW:LEARN methodology for Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and Strategic Action Plans (TDA/SAP). The main goal of the workshop was to present to local specialists the status of the cryosphere in other Central Asian, discuss key challenges in monitoring and research, propose solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change on the cryosphere in Turkmenistan.

Chinar Rustamova, Executive Secretary of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO, opened the event, emphasizing that Turkmenistan aims to expand cooperation with international organizations like the UN, UNESCO, and UNDP to address issues of rational water resource management and climate change.

Opening remarks on cooperation for water resource management and climate change
UNESCO

The dynamics of global warming lead to the reduction and melting of glaciers, which disrupts the planet's water balance, including our region's, where water levels in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers are declining.

Chinar RustamovaExecutive Secretary of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO

Pirli Kepbanov, the Director of the National Institute of Deserts, Flora, and Fauna under the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan, highlighted that the health of the Amu Darya directly influences the country's water supply and ecosystems, including the Karakum River, which provides up to 90% of the nation's freshwater needs.

Our country, like others dependent on the Amu Darya's waters, relies heavily on the flow of its tributaries originating from the Pamir and Hindu Kush mountain ranges.

Pirli KepbanovDirector of the National Institute of Deserts, Flora, and Fauna under the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan

Fruitful group work

Following the opening remarks, participants discussed the outcomes of the cryosphere assessment in Central Asia, examining key issues identified during previous seminars, with a particular emphasis on the context of Turkmenistan. The second day focused on interactive group discussions, where participants explored stakeholders' perspectives, identified priorities in raising awareness, capacity building, and planning pilot activities for Turkmenistan under the project.

UNESCO

The workshop was filled with interactive discussions, which facilitated an active exchange of experiences and the development of concrete next steps.

Nana BaramidzeProject Manager

The outcomes of the fruitful work during the workshop should significantly contribute to the development of scenario-based strategies to address future changes in the cryosphere across Central Asia and to enhance regional cooperation and adaptation measures.

UNESCO
UNESCO
UNESCO
UNESCO