This was announced by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, speaking at the “One Water” summit in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This is the result of the country’s responsible and consistent efforts to practically implement its initiative to create a specialized UN center for a region that has unique natural resources and biodiversity, and is at the same time located in a zone of serious environmental and climate risks.
Joint measures towards the establishment of the Regional Centre for Climate Change Technologies in Central Asia with headquarters in Ashgabat have been repeatedly discussed at major international venues and meetings, including the talks held on 29 November 2024 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan with the Director of the Regional Office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Europe. An important step in the practical implementation of this initiative was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan and the UN Environment Programme on 13 November 2023.
One of the key aspects of cooperation within the framework of this document is the development of structured regional programs for attracting climate technologies to Turkmenistan and the Central Asian states, as well as joint projects for the introduction of innovations and technologies in the Central Asian region. In addition, the Memorandum covers a number of activities for the exchange of knowledge on the latest technologies and solutions related to climate.
In his speech at the summit, the National Leader of the Turkmen people noted the impact of climate change on water challenges. As was emphasized, rising temperatures, shrinking glaciers and changing precipitation patterns require not only adaptation but also urgent joint action.
In this regard, Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also recalled other important regional initiatives of Turkmenistan on the UN platform. This is the proposal voiced at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly to establish a UN Regional Council on water management in Central Asian countries with headquarters in Ashgabat and to accelerate the process of adopting the UN Conventions on the Amu Darya and Syr Darya Rivers. The UN Regional Council, in close cooperation with all Central Asian states, will coordinate actions on water management, organize interaction between departmental structures of the region, and develop a legal framework for water use.
“We are confident that this initiative of Turkmenistan is timely, and if implemented in the near future, it can bring tangible practical changes in strengthening regional cooperation,” the National Leader of the Turkmen people emphasized.
Another initiative of Turkmenistan concerns the development of a UN Special Program for the Aral Sea Basin and the allocation of the Aral Sea issue, which is of global importance, as a separate area of activity of the United Nations. The basis for effective international cooperation on the Aral Sea are two Resolutions of the UN General Assembly “Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea”, as well as the Resolution of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) “Consideration of the conditions for the creation of a special United Nations program for the Aral Sea basin”. Recalling these important documents, the Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan spoke in favor of their implementation becoming one of the defining areas of all international work on the Aral track. And the activities of such regional structures as the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea and the Interstate Coordination Water Management Commission of the Fund should be based not only on the assistance of the Fund’s member states, but also on broad, systemic international support.
At the ESCAP Regional Consultative Meeting on the Establishment of the UN Special Programme for the Aral Sea Basin, held in Ashgabat from 30 November to 1 December 2024, the current progress was assessed and new opportunities for strengthening regional cooperation were discussed, and the conditions, formats and structure of the UN Special Programme for the Aral Sea Basin were considered. Following the meeting, further actions were agreed upon. The adopted document will be presented at the 81st session of ESCAP, which will be held in Bangkok from 21 to 25 April 2025.
https://turkmenistan.gov.tm/ru/post/90213/v-ashhabade-nachnyot-funkcionirovat-regionalnyj-centr-oon-po-klimaticheskim-tehnologiyam
