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Climate
Change and
Energy News:
Weekly
Digest by CAN EECCA
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Dear
subscribers,
In just
five days, the 29th Conference of the Parties to
the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change,
or COP29, will kick off in Baku. For the first
time, a climate COP is taking place in our
region, marking a pivotal moment for us as
climate activists from Eastern Europe, the
Caucasus, and Central Asia. This issue
highlights how our region is preparing for this
historic event.
Starting
on November 11, we’ll be sharing daily updates
from Baku, covering key moments and
negotiations. Join us to follow our region’s
participation and stay informed on global
efforts to combat the climate crisis.
Aliya,
CAN EECCA Communications
Coordinator
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Civil
Society Initiatives
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CAN EECCA’s Regional
Position Ahead of UNFCCC
COP29
Fifty-seven
civil society organizations and groups, united
under the Climate Action Network for Eastern
Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, have
released a joint position ahead of COP29, set to
commence in less than a week in Baku,
Azerbaijan. CAN EECCA urges summit delegates to
prioritize climate justice, accelerate the
phase-out of fossil fuels, and reallocate
subsidies away from fossil fuels and misleading
alternatives like nuclear energy toward genuine
solutions such as energy efficiency and
renewable energy.
How EECCA is
Navigating Climate Action Amid a Triple Crisis:
Climate Policy Overview
2024
The
latest Climate Policy Overview for Eastern
Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia is now
available. This CAN EECCA report highlights how
the region’s 11 countries are advancing their
climate actions amid escalating climate crisis
impacts while also navigating complex
geopolitical and socio-economic challenges. It
reveals weak and inconsistent ambitions for
mitigation and adaptation, along with a
continued heavy reliance on fossil fuels and
modest targets for energy efficiency and
renewable energy.
Green Technologies
Support Highland Families in Tajikistan
(RU)
Another
20 vulnerable families across 10 different
villages in the Yagnob Valley of Tajikistan have
received energy-efficient equipment sets. The
valley's residents face numerous challenges
typical for high-altitude settlements, including
shortages of energy resources for cooking and
heating. The accessible and reliable devices
provided by the environmental organization
“Little Earth” will help reduce firewood and
coal consumption, improve sanitation, and save
family budgets.
Promoting Solar Energy
in Kyrgyzstan — Expert Discussion
(RU)
International
and local experts gathered at a roundtable in
Bishkek to discuss the promotion of solar energy
and the importance of microgeneration for the
resilience and independence of businesses. The
meeting presented initiatives aimed at raising
awareness and supporting innovation in solar
generation in Kyrgyzstan.
COP29, Climate
Justice, and Authoritarianism: Side Event at
Warsaw Human Dimension Conference
2024
On
October 4, 2024 at the OSCE Warsaw Human
Dimension Conference, Crude Accountability and
Freedom Now co-hosted the side event, “Climate
Justice, Authoritarianism, and COP29,”
discussing human rights and environmental
degradation in Azerbaijan, and the unlikelihood
of transparent and meaningful climate talks at
this year’s COP in Baku.
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News
from the EECCA Region
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IFC to Support
Uzbekistan's Renewable Energy
Transition
The
International Finance Corporation will provide a
$240 mln loan to Saudi-based ACWA Power to
advance green energy in Uzbekistan. IFC’s
financing will support the construction and
operation of two projects, with a cumulative
capacity of a 1-gigawatt solar PV plant, a
668-megawatt battery energy storage system, and
approximately 500 km of high-voltage
transmission lines.
New
Waste-to-Energy Plant in Bishkek — What City
Authorities “Forgot” to Tell Residents
(RU)
In March
2024, Bishkek laid the foundation for a new
waste-to-energy plant aimed at processing
municipal solid waste. The project, backed by a
$95 million investment from the Chinese company
JunXin, promises to generate electricity while
managing waste. However, "Mediazona. Central
Asia" obtained a framework agreement between the
Bishkek city hall and the developer, uncovering
numerous previously undisclosed
details.
Bakhyt Essekina on
Improving Climate Legislation in
Kazakhstan
Ahead of
COP29 in Baku, Kazakhstan is positioning itself
as an active participant in climate discussions,
with President Tokayev urging businesses to
adopt advanced emissions-reducing technologies.
Since ratifying the Paris Agreement, the country
has committed to carbon neutrality by 2060,
updating its Environmental Code and establishing
a national emissions trading system. However,
emission reductions require stronger incentives
across key economic sectors.
Drought and Deluge:
Russia’s Future Grain Harvest at Risk
(RU)
The
severe weather conditions that struck Russia in
2024 continue to test its agricultural sector.
While the full scale of damage from May frosts
and the summer drought remains uncertain, the
sowing and future harvest of winter grains are
already under threat. Experts speaking to Forbes
predict that next year’s grain yield will fall
below 2024 levels, though the exact extent of
losses is yet to be determined.
COP29 Is Azerbaijan’s
Moment to Step into the Global Sunshine —
Opinion
COP29,
the UN climate change conference, convenes in
Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, from November 11-22.
Compared to Cop28 host, the United Arab
Emirates, less is known about Azerbaijan – but
that is about to change. The South Caucasus
country bridging Eastern Europe and Western Asia
is poised to be a middle power in a multipolar
world.
We Must Work Together
to Build a Sustainable Energy Future for Armenia
— Deputy Speaker of the
Parliament
At the
Climate Change and Energy Transition Conference,
Armenian Parliament Deputy Speaker Hakob
Arshakyan emphasized the urgent need for unified
action to build a sustainable energy future for
Armenia. The conference, attended by government
officials, international representatives, and
experts, highlighted green financing
opportunities and the parliament's role in
shaping environmental policies.
Moldova Launches
Sustainable Energy Investment Hub
(RO)
Moldova
has launched the Sustainable Energy Investment
Hub, an innovative platform aimed at uniting
stakeholders in renewable energy and energy
efficiency to promote sustainable solutions. The
hub will facilitate collaboration, simplify
bureaucratic procedures, and enhance access to
resources and permits.
Ukraine to Highlight
Resilience and Green Innovation at COP29 Despite
Ongoing War (UA)
At COP29,
Ukraine plans to shed light on the environmental
damage caused by Russia's aggression and to
demonstrate its commitment to global climate
goals. The Ukrainian pavilion at COP29 will
feature around 50 events, showcasing Ukraine's
resilience, progress in green technology, and
commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by
2050.
Uzbekistan Embraces
Cultural Heritage and New Initiatives at
COP29
At the UN
climate conference in Baku, Uzbekistan will
present a National Pavilion inspired by
traditional Uzbek architecture, designed to
highlight sustainability and environmental
awareness rooted in its cultural heritage. The
pavilion will host over 20 events. Key events at
the National Pavilion will include the signing
of the International Youth Strategy, ministerial
meetings of the Turkic Environmental Forum, a
joint initiative on the Silk Road Declaration
for Climate Migration, and an event for the Aral
Sea Multi-partner Trust Fund.
Hydropower Plants in
Central Asia Threaten Regional Ecosystems —
Weekly Eurasianet Review
(RU)
While
Russia has temporarily safeguarded its nature
reserves, hydropower plants in Uzbekistan,
Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan are creating
significant environmental risks. Key events and
updates on nature conservation and climate
issues in Russia and Central Asia are featured
in Eurasianet’s weekly blog, “Environment in
Russia and Central Asia.”
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World
Climate and Energy News
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Atmospheric
CO2 Hits 420 ppm, Rises 11% in Just Two
Decades
Atmospheric
CO2 concentrations increased to 420 parts per
million last year, the 12th year in a row when
climate pollution rose by at least 2 ppm,
reports the World Meteorological Organization.
The analysis shows CO2 levels rising 11.4% in
just 20 years, “committing the planet to rising
temperatures for many years to come.” The Earth
last experienced comparable CO2 levels in the
atmosphere three to five million years ago,
“when the temperature was 2° to 3°C warmer and
sea level was 10 to 20 metres higher than
now.”
Why Was Valencia
Flooding So Deadly, Did Warning Texts Come Too
Late, and What’s the Climate
Link?
Some
areas saw a year’s worth of rain in just eight
hours leaving people trapped in their homes by
floodwaters. More than 200 people have been
killed in southern and eastern Spain following
deadly flash flooding. That number is expected
to rise further as the search continues for
dozens still missing, some regions yet to report
their victims and more rain forecast to hit some
of the worst affected parts of the
country.
Will COP29 Unlock a
New Era of Action? What to Watch at the 2024
Climate Summit
Amid
rapidly escalating disasters and with
planet-warming emissions at an all-time high,
the next UN climate summit (COP29) offers an
opportunity to unlock more ambitious climate
action around the globe. Taking place in Baku,
Azerbaijan from Nov. 11-Nov. 22, 2024, the
summit's primary focus will be how to deliver
more and better climate finance to the countries
and communities that need it most urgently. But
it is also a key moment for world leaders to
signal how they will strengthen their national
climate commitments and make good on past
pledges.
Japan, Australia,
ASEAN Countries Adopt Action plans for
Decarbonizing Asia
Leaders
of Japan, Australia and ASEAN countries have
adopted a joint statement on measures to
accelerate decarbonization in Asia over the next
10 years. The meeting of the Asia Zero Emission
Community was held on the sidelines of the ASEAN
summit with Myanmar being the only ASEAN member
not to attend. As of last year, Asian nations,
including China and India, emitted about 60% of
global CO2 emissions. Their energy consumption
has been increasing as their economies
develop.
Armenia Elected as the
Host Country for the 17th Biodiversity
COP
On
October 31, during the 16th meeting of the
Conference of the Parties to the Convention on
Biological Diversity Armenia was elected as the
host country of the 17th meeting of the
Conference of the Parties to the Convention on
Biological Diversity (COP17). The UN Convention
on Biodiversity is one of the three global
environmental conventions, which regulates the
efforts of the international community in the
areas of environmental sustainability,
biodiversity conservation, restoration and
sustainable use of natural resources.
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BETD
Media Fellowship 2025: An Opportunity to Report
on the Global Energy
Transition
The
Federal Foreign Office, GIZ and the German
Renewable Energy Federation invite international
journalists to report on the Berlin Energy
Transition Dialogue, March 18-19, 2025. This
BETD Media Fellowship allows young journalists
from around the world to come together in the
German capital in order to participate in this
exclusive conference, talk to high-ranking
stakeholders from science, politics, industry
and civil society as well as to connect with
other BETD Media Fellows from all over the world
and strengthen international energy journalism
that does not stop at national borders. Deadline
for Application: 24th November 2024, 11:55 pm
CET.
"Turn It Around" Youth
Contest for Central Asia
(RU)
Be part
of creating a unique climate-themed card deck
that reimagines the challenges of climate change
through art and storytelling! If you're from
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, or
Uzbekistan, this is your chance to share your
perspective on environmental issues and propose
meaningful solutions. Let your voice shine in
this creative project!
Climate Justice for
the EECCA Region: Join the Youth-Led Campaign
for COP29
This
campaign calls on climate advocates and
communicators from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus,
and Central Asia to unite in addressing the
region's colonial legacy and environmental
exploitation ahead of COP29. With the upcoming
UN climate conference in Baku, the campaign aims
to amplify the voices of those affected by
authoritarianism and ecocide, advocating for
decolonial action and human rights. Whether
attending COP29 or supporting remotely,
participants can contribute by sharing local
stories, creating campaign materials, or
engaging with the media.
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Sent: Tuesday,
November 05, 2024 2:47 PM
Subject: 🌍
CAN EECCA Newsletter: Record CO2 Levels, Climate Policy
Overview, and COP29 Plans
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