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The EU is ready to
support the industrial development of Central
Asian countries, said European Commission
President Ursula von der Leyen during the first
EU–CA summit in Samarkand. Europe hopes to gain
broader access to the region's rare earth
elements and strengthen overall
partnerships.
In a tense geopolitical
environment, the EU sees Central Asia as a
"reliable" region and aims to secure access to
key raw materials and clean energy sources, as
well as greater alignment on issues related to
Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine.
Afghanistan is
constructing a massive canal to draw water from
the Amu Darya, which could affect water
availability in Central Asia.
Abdul Latif Mansoor,
Acting Minister of Energy and Water, stated that
Afghanistan has no water agreements with any
country in the basin and is open to dialogue
only if based on formal
treaties.
The Aras River, vital
for 20 million people in Armenia, Iran, Turkey,
and Azerbaijan, is facing ecological disaster.
Over 50 studies show high levels of heavy metals
and even radioactive waste.
Key polluters include
Armenia's mining industry and the Metsamor
nuclear power plant. Despite acknowledging the
pollution, Iran still plans to use Aras water
for cities in the northwest, raising concerns
over environmental injustice.
At a
high-level session in Samarkand's climate forum,
ministers from Central Asia and Mongolia
discussed coordinated responses to climate
change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
Tajikistan’s environment chief Bahodur
Sheralizoda emphasized that only joint regional
actions can effectively address ecosystem
degradation.
At the Samarkand
International Climate Forum, President
Mirziyoyev stated that Uzbekistan will strive to
meet its Paris Agreement target of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions by 35% ahead of
schedule. He noted that global average
temperatures exceeded 1.5°C for the first time
last year and highlighted the urgency of the
climate crisis.
Moldova is launching a
grant program to help private homeowners improve
the energy efficiency of their houses. The
initiative is part of broader efforts to reduce
energy consumption and increase resilience to
climate change.
The average annual
economic loss from climate change in Kyrgyzstan
is estimated at $30–50 million. This was stated
by Marat Imankulov, Secretary of the Security
Council of Kyrgyzstan, during a roundtable on
“Water Diplomacy in Central Asia Amid the
Water-Energy Crisis: Problems and Solutions.” He
warned that if current trends continue, this
figure could rise to $1
billion.
Regional Climate
Priorities Set as Dialogue with the EU
Continues
At the
climate forum in Samarkand, representatives from
Central Asian countries expressed their
readiness for deeper international cooperation
on sustainable development and climate
adaptation. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov
called for stronger support from the EU,
especially in climate finance. Meanwhile,
Uzbekistan’s Minister of Agriculture, Ibrokhim
Abdurakhmonov, discussed a strategic partnership
with the EBRD to develop a national platform for
assessing climate risks in
agriculture.
CAN EECCA
comments:
Expanding such initiatives could be an important
step forward, especially if they ensure
open dialogue with civil
society and
genuine involvement of local
communities.
Read
more:
Uzbekistan
Kyrgyzstan
A new four-year program
titled the "Biodiversity Finance Plan of
Armenia" (BIOFIN) was launched at the UN Office
in Armenia. The program is funded by the Global
Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by
the UNDP office in Armenia.
Its goal is to develop
a national financing plan for biodiversity to
identify gaps and opportunities in funding
conservation efforts. The initiative aims to
attract additional resources, improve the
efficiency of existing funds, and implement
innovative financing
solutions.
Air pollution in
Bishkek is a year-round issue. Why does this
happen, what are the risks, and what solutions
exist? The media project Bashta breaks it down
in a recent analysis.
A new World Weather
Attribution study found that the March heatwave
in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan,
Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan was made up to 10°C
hotter due to climate change. Temperatures
reached 30°C — about 15°C above the seasonal
average.
Scientists warn that
March is warming especially fast, and events
like this could occur every three years as the
planet continues to heat.
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