Based on the outcomes of phase I, the project supported the regional dialogue on the strengthening of institutional and legal frameworks of water resources management in Central Asia, including under the umbrella of IFAS, as well as facilitated the understanding and application of international water law in the region.
Assistance to the beneficiary countries in ensuring improved control of their energy consumption in the building sector by promoting and developing EE, as well as the use of RE where applicable, in this particular sector
To strengthen national and local capacities for participatory and informed planning, decision-making, implementation and monitoring processes in relation to environment and security
challenges and for environmental conflict prevention and resolution
The overall objective of the programme is to ensure sustainable water management in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia. FinWater WEI’s purpose is to reduce water disputes inside and between countries and to improve water supply and sanitation through improved education, increased investment and better alignment of water management with the UNECE Water Convention and its Water and Health Protocol.
The countries benefitting from the action are: Azerbaijan, Russian Federation, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan (with Iran as observer)
The project goals were:
(i) to synthesise the information presently available on glacial melting in Central Asia;
(ii) to model the impacts of a range of climate change scenarios on glacial melting on water supply in the major river basins in Central Asia for the period 2009-2100 using the best available information;
(iii) to identify the gaps in knowledge, data, observation capacity and finances, facilitate the actions required for filling these gaps, and determine the budgetary needs;
(iv) to provide a range of cost-effective recommendations to improve data availability and glacier observation capacity in the region;
(v) to raise awareness of the project results with the general public, especially decision-makers in the key water user sectors which coild be affected by hydrological changes associated with the glacier retreat.
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.
This project was to:
(i) consolidate a network of energy and environment professionals and institutions in a dedicated regional scenario-building workshop;
(ii) improve the participants’ knowledge of scenario-based approaches to energy-environment analysis and planning, and of tools available for mainstreaming environmental and sustainability concerns into energy security policies;
(iii) help develop a blueprint for country-level follow-up by ENVSEC and other institutions;
(iv) communicate the issues and conclusions. The cornerstone event of the project was a workshop “Planning for Energy Security and Sustainability in Central Asia”.
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 overall objective of this project is to build and improve institutional capacities to manage river basins for selected Transboundary rivers and sub-basins. Location : Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan
