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In
a swift and highly anticipated move,
Kyrgyzstan's parliament passed a bill aimed at
significantly restricting the activities of NGOs
advocating for human rights and independent
media. With 66 MPs voting in favor and only five
against, the legislation passed its final
reading in just seven minutes, prompting
concerns about the stifling of civil society and
media freedom. Despite international criticism
and warnings from organizations such as the OSCE
and the US government, the bill is expected to
become law once President Sadyr Japarov signs
it, leaving affected NGOs with limited time to
adapt to the stringent
regulations.
The
UN Economic Commission for Europe's 2024 Forum
focuses on strengthening the 2030 sustainable
development agenda in the face of multiple
crises. Irina Ponedelnik from the Green Network
emphasized the need for urgent political action
to address climate change and biodiversity loss,
abandoning nuclear power in favor of green
energy. She also emphasized the importance of
including vulnerable groups in decision-making
and developing national climate change
adaptation plans.
The
Government members approved a draft law on
climate actions aimed at achieving the 2050
climate neutrality objective set forth in the
Paris Climate Agreement. This legislation
mandates national-level actions to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with global
efforts to limit the rise in average
temperature. The draft law also implements
monitoring, reporting, and verification systems
for various sectors, including aviation and
maritime transport.
A
high-level delegation from Taliban-led
Afghanistan visited Turkmenistan, where
discussions included the management of water
resources, particularly concerning the Qosh-Tepa
canal project in Afghanistan, which may divert a
significant portion of water from the Amu Darya
River. While Turkmenistan urged deeper
cooperation based on international norms,
Afghanistan proceeded with the canal's
construction, potentially impacting regional
dynamics and agricultural
self-sufficiency.
The
village of Min-Kush in Kyrgyzstan, once vibrant
during the Soviet era, now faces health concerns
among its residents possibly due to high
radiation exposure from nearby uranium mill
tailings. Remediation efforts initiated in 2023
have stirred anxiety among locals, especially
regarding the transportation process and
potential hazards it may pose to their health.
While government assurances emphasize safety
measures, ecologists remain skeptical,
emphasizing the necessity of thoroughly
evaluating the remediation project's impact on
residents given the prevalence of toxic
substances across numerous mill tailings sites
in Kyrgyzstan.
KazMunayGas CEO Magzum
Mirzagaliyev announced plans to increase
Kazakhstan's oil exports through Azerbaijan by
1.5 times, signing an agreement during President
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's visit to Azerbaijan on
March 11. Currently exporting 120,000 tons
monthly, Kazakhstan aims to raise this to
180,000 tons per month via Azerbaijan, with
potential for additional exports through the
Baku-Supsa pipeline. Mirzagaliyev also proposed
joint exploration projects to SOCAR and
highlighted an expansion project at Tengiz set
to increase oil output from 12 million to 39
million tons annually by 2025.
Green alternative
commented and added recommendations on the
working version of the ambient air quality
management plan of Tbilisi agglomeration.
Against the background of the existing problems
in terms of air pollution, the Ambient Air
Quality Management Plan of Tbilisi Agglomeration
is an important document to overcome the
challenges in this direction in the
capital.
Thirteen-year-old Dato
Mamuchishvili tragically drowned in the Iori
River while attempting to swim with his brother,
amidst concerns about the river's altered
landscape due to sand-gravel mining. Despite
calls for government action to improve safety
and protect citizens, environmentalist Rezo
Getiashvili notes the lack of systematic
response to such incidents, highlighting the
need for legal reforms and stricter enforcement
to address the exploitation of rivers in
Georgia. Investigations reveal ongoing mining
activities by companies with expired licenses,
raising questions about accountability and
environmental damage.
Azerbaijan, set to host
COP29 Climate Change Conference, has joined the
Global Methane Pledge, aiming to reduce methane
emissions by 30% by 2030. The pledge, initiated
by the US and EU at COP26, now includes 155
countries, showcasing global commitment to
methane reduction. Azerbaijan's participation
reinforces its green-energy partnership and
aligns with its NDC goals, positioning it as a
responsible contributor to global climate
policy.
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