Kazakhstan

Based on the existing institutional structure and the partnership arrangements of the Aarhus Centres, this project aimed to further intensify the work of Aarhus Centres on priority environmental issues that have security implications in respective countries. This was achieved through two separate but parallel approaches: (i) organizing targeted trainings and other capacity building activities for the Aarhus Centre staff and their stakeholders on the priority environmental and security issues; and (ii) facilitating active involvement and participation of Aarhus Centres and their constituencies in local and national environmental projects and programmes, particularly those under the ENVSEC Initiative, to complement and/or support the public awareness and public participation components of such larger scale projects and programmes. The project also continued to support networking and information sharing among the Aarhus Centres at the regional level.

Many present conflicts and security tensions originate from disagreements on the use of natural resources that are located on the territory of several countries, or from activities causing adverse impacts across borders. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA) provide institutional frameworks for addressing the concerns of both public and government related to new projects and plans.
The project was to use EIA and SEA as tools to address and mitigate environment-related risks by requiring adequate assessment of the potential national and transboundary environmental impacts of planned projects, establishing systematic legislative framework to integrate environmental concerns into projects and plans, enhancing public participation and empowering public to act as guardians of environmentally good practice.

The project aimed to increase know-how among the hydrometeorological institutes of all five countries and to raise preparedness for weather-related natural disasters, which could become more frequent because of climate change. Efficient weather and climate services help to manage the adverse effects of climate change and extreme weather events on the economy and human life. In addition, the cooperation partners in Uzbekistan were assisted in modernising their institute and revising its development strategy.