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Climate Action
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Eastern Europe, Caucasus
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Almaty
hosted public discussions on the construction of
Kazakhstan's first nuclear power plant. The
event sparked controversy as many opponents
accused it of being propaganda for the nuclear
plant and demanded equal access to voice their
concerns. Participants raised critical questions
about the plant's safety, the choice of
technology, and the development of alternative
energy sources, while also discussing the
potential risks and long-term consequences of
the project.
New
incentives for green energy producers have been
approved in Moldova, which include simplifying
the process of installing and using renewable
energy sources. Amendments to the Law on the
Development of Renewable Energy Sources will
allow producers to sell surplus energy at market
prices without taxing the income. These and
other measures aim to reduce bureaucratic
barriers for producers and will support the
country's green transition.
In the
first six months of 2024, renewable energy
sources provided 93.6% of Kalmykia's energy
consumption, amounting to around 422 million
kWh. The region operates three wind farms and
three solar power plants, which have
significantly reduced the republic's energy
dependence on other regions. The renewable
energy development program also contributes to a
significant reduction in CO2 emissions,
preventing the release of over 400,000 tons
annually.
Azerbaijan
is introducing new specializations for training
in the field of renewable energy. The Director
of the State Agency for Vocational Education of
Azerbaijan announced that vocational schools
across the country will train students in the
installation and repair of solar panels, as well
as the operation of alternative energy
equipment. As part of this training, they plan
to closely collaborate with energy companies and
construct new educational institutions with
programs focused on green energy.
Environmental
migrants in Tajikistan, relocated by the
government from areas vulnerable to natural
disasters, face harsh living conditions after
resettlement. The new locations lack essential
services such as drinking water, electricity,
schools, and hospitals, while the land plots and
small loans provided by the authorities fail to
solve their basic problems. To survive, the
migrants are forced to engage in agriculture on
unfavorable land or seek work abroad.
Heavy
rains and floods in Yeghegnut village have
destroyed newly renovated roads, highlighting
the region's vulnerability to climate change.
Local NGO leader Aramayis Hakobyan emphasized
the negative impact of these weather anomalies
on agriculture and beekeeping, attributing the
challenges to climate change, as reported by
Ecolur, a member of CAN EECCA in Armenia. In
response, the community is working on restoring
ecological balance through the establishment of
eco-corridors and sustainable natural resource
management, supported by international
projects.
Kyrgyzstan
has lost over 16% of its glaciers in the last 50
years due to climate change, significantly
increasing the risk of droughts in the entire
Central Asian region. The number of glaciers has
risen, not due to new formations, but because
larger glaciers are melting and breaking into
smaller ones, leading to a 16% reduction in
total glaciation area. By 2050, the area of
glaciers in Kyrgyzstan could be halved, with the
potential for total disappearance by 2100,
posing severe threats to water availability,
food security, and regional
stability.
Lake
Balkhash in Kazakhstan, known as the "pearl of
Kazakhstan," is facing severe threats from
pollution, climate change, and overuse, with its
water levels dangerously close to a critical
threshold. The lake, which is the largest
fishery in the country, has seen a significant
decline in fish populations and is suffering
from the negative effects of China's overuse of
the Ili River, which feeds into the lake. Local
industries, such as the Kazakhmys copper plant,
also contribute to heavy pollution, further
endangering the lake's ecosystem and the health
of nearby residents.
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According to a report
by the Ember think tank, the world is not
meeting the commitments made at COP28 to triple
renewable energy production by 2030. The study
found that in the next six years, wind energy
production will double rather than triple as
promised. Countries like the United States and
India are significantly lagging behind their
national targets, while Brazil and Finland have
already exceeded their targets.
Eco-activists held a
protest at a nuclear fuel plant owned by the
French company Framatome in Lingen, Germany. The
protest was triggered by the arrival of a
Russian ship carrying radioactive materials in
the port of Rotterdam. Despite the ongoing war
in Ukraine, the plant continues to cooperate
with Rosatom, drawing criticism from
environmental organizations. The protesters,
including representatives from Ecodefense, a
member of CAN EECCA from Russia, are demanding
an end to all nuclear deals with Russia and are
calling on the German federal government to
intervene.
A
CNN analysis reveals that many of the world's
cities will become too hot to host the Summer
Olympics by 2050 due to rising global
temperatures, with extreme heat posing
significant health risks to athletes and
spectators. Cities in the eastern United States,
much of China, and Southeast Asia are expected
to surpass safe heat thresholds, making them
unsuitable for the Games. Experts suggest
rescheduling the Olympics to cooler seasons or
higher elevations as potential solutions, but
even some past host cities, like Beijing and
Tokyo, may become too hot to host the event
safely in the future.
Former government
leaders and Nobel laureates have issued a letter
expressing deep concern that the upcoming United
Nations "Summit of the Future" this September is
failing to address the critical threat of fossil
fuels. They argue that fossil fuel extraction
and burning are the primary drivers of the
climate crisis, undermining global efforts to
meet the Sustainable Development Goals and
threatening lives worldwide. The letter calls
for robust international cooperation to commit
to a rapid and equitable transition away from
fossil fuels, emphasizing that the success of
the summit hinges on addressing this urgent
issue.
On
August 13, 2024, the United Nations General
Assembly adopted a resolution initiated by
Uzbekistan aimed at promoting sustainable forest
management and highlighting its economic,
social, and environmental benefits. The
resolution calls for international cooperation
to support reforestation projects on degraded
lands, especially in developing countries.
Uzbekistan is implementing national
reforestation projects, including a large-scale
afforestation program on the dried-up Aral Sea
bed and the "Yashil Makon" initiative, which
aims to plant one billion trees over five
years.
On
August 15, 2024, the third hybrid meeting of the
COP29 NGO Coalition—a coalition of civil society
organizations preparing for the 29th Conference
of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change—took place. According to the
initiators, the National NGO Forum of
Azerbaijan, the coalition comprises 170 civil
society organizations from 43 countries.
Participants discussed the expansion of civil
society participation in COP29 and, in
particular, the development of the coalition's
action plan.
Scientists at Oxford
University have developed a groundbreaking
light-absorbing material that can be applied to
everyday objects like cars and mobile phones,
potentially reducing the need for traditional
silicon-based solar panels and large solar
farms. This ultra-thin, flexible material, which
uses a multi-junction approach to capture a
broader spectrum of sunlight, has achieved over
27% energy efficiency, comparable to current
silicon photovoltaics. The innovation promises
to lower the cost of solar energy further and
expand its application across various
industries.
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This
initiative is designed to empower young people
in climate action. Through interactive courses,
workshops, and bootcamps, participants will
develop technical and soft skills to enhance
their climate projects, including storytelling,
community building, and policy development. The
program also offers networking opportunities
through thematic channels and practical guidance
on scaling project impact and securing
funding.
This
programme offers mentorship, capacity building,
and up to $2,500 in funding for 10 youth-led
projects that use creative arts to address
ocean, waterways, and climate change issues in
local communities. Open to young people aged
13-24 worldwide, the Fellowship supports new or
emerging projects that co-create with local
communities and have a tangible environmental
impact. Applications are due on September 1st,
and participants, whether selected or not, will
gain access to valuable resources for grant
writing, project management, and
fundraising.
The
Global Greengrants Fund Small Grants Program has
announced a call for project proposals from
public environmental organizations and
initiative groups in Central Asia, focusing on
projects aimed at environmental justice, climate
change adaptation, biodiversity conservation,
and other environmental initiatives. There are
three types of grants available: for in-country
projects, regional projects, and travel grants.
Applications to participate in COP29 in Baku
will be accepted until September 15, with the
general application period open until October 1,
2024.
The
EU-supported Local Cross-Border Investigative
Journalism Programme is offering grants for
investigative teams of journalists and news
outlets from at least two different European
countries. Grants, ranging from €2,000 to over
€10,000, will support cross-border
investigations on topics like housing, waste,
tourism, and mobility. The application deadline
is September 26, 2024, with a subsequent
deadline on November 7, 2024.
The
UNEP's CAMCA project in Central Asia is
organizing a communication workshop to enhance
the skills of Kazakhstani journalists in
effectively reporting on climate change and its
impact on biodiversity. The workshop will
include field visits to project areas such as
the Ile-Balkhash State Natural Resources
Reserve, where participants will learn to
develop scientifically accurate stories for
publication in local, regional, and
international media. Applications are open to
journalists based in Kazakhstan with at least
1-2 years of experience, and the deadline for
submission is August 22, 2024.
This
Programme offers grants for cross-border teams
of professional journalists and news outlets to
investigate environmental issues related to
Europe. The program aims to document illegal,
unreported, and unregulated environmental abuses
that cross national borders, with stories
required to be published in at least two
different countries, one of which must be in
Europe. The grant covers expenses such as
logistics and legal support, with €400,000
available per call, and the next application
deadline is October 24, 2024.
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Sent: Tuesday, August 20,
2024 4:00 PM
Subject: CAN EECCA
Newsletter: Broken COP28 Promises, Opposition to Nuclear Energy, and
Opportunities for Journalists and Activists
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