On September 5-6, Bishkek is hosting the Youth Regional Conference on Climate Change and Preparation for COP 29: RCOY Central Asia and Afghanistan 2024.
This initiative aims not only to engage but also to empower youth to lead global climate action, ensuring they actively contribute to the solutions our planet desperately needs.
Central Asia and Afghanistan 2024 objective : to strengthen the resilience and connect youth in Central Asia and Afghanistan in water and climate action; to connect and empower youth, girls and boys in Central Asia and Afghanistan to take climate action in line with the objectives of COP29 and to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those related to climate and water.
Introduction to the event: Climate change poses serious challenges worldwide, but its impacts are particularly visible in vulnerable regions such as Central Asia and Afghanistan. The region has a diverse climate, from deserts to mountains, and faces many climate challenges, including rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and water scarcity. Water resources in the region are transboundary, requiring effective international cooperation to manage them sustainably. These challenges have profound implications for the environment, the economy and, most importantly, the well-being of children and young people. Children are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change due to their unique developmental physiology.
By providing essential education, fostering leadership development, and bridging the gap between finance and climate action, RCOY equips youth with the relevant knowledge and tools they need to make sustainable change. Through inclusive representation and a focus on future generations, RCOY ensures that the voices of young people from Central Asia and Afghanistan are heard and that they play a key role in shaping a resilient, sustainable future.
The conference was attended by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic – Edil Baisalov , Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision – Meder Mashiev , Deputy Minister – Member of the Board of Governors of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) Asel Raimkulova , Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Kyrgyzstan – Latif Seyfaddin ogly Gandilov , heads of UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, FAO, OSCE, GIZ , youth organizations from Central Asian countries, non-governmental organizations.
CAREC was represented by Kuban Matraimov, Director of the CAREC branch in Kyrgyzstan, who made a presentation at the plenary session ” Moving along the climate future: the path of Central Asia and Afghanistan at COP29 “. From the speech of Kuban Matraimov, the participants became familiar with and received information about CAREC’s activities in the region, the integration of the efforts of the Central Asian countries on climate change, the potential of the platforms created by CAREC: CACCC, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Parliamentarians, where climate change issues are discussed and certain decisions are made.
CAREC constantly supports youth initiatives in the COP, involving NGOs and youth in discussions and solutions to climate issues. Detailed information was also provided on the CAREC Leadership Program, where young people from Central Asian countries gain skills in environmental protection, ecology and sustainable use of natural resources.
On the part of UNDP, the head of the Ecology and Emergencies department, Lira Zholdubayeva, noted that CAREC is a regional organization that constantly works with young people, has training courses and platforms, and called on young people to pay attention to the potential of CAREC and participate in their projects.
This event was a preparatory regional event for COP 29, which will be held in Azerbaijan in November this year. Following the results of the conference, the youth of the Central Asian countries will prepare the first version of the youth Statement for COP 29.
Additional information:
Kuban Matraimov, Director of CAREC Country Office for Kyrgyzstan, kmatraimov@carececo.org
