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Climate Action
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Eastern Europe, the
Caucasus, and Central Asia
Climate
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Regional Climate and
Energy News
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Youth Ecological
Center, our member organization in Tajikistan,
has been nominated for the 2024 Local Adaptation
Champions Awards in the Water Security category.
In addition to this category, the awards
recognize efforts in three other areas: Food
Security, Local Entrepreneurship, and Urban
Adaptation Solutions. Winners will be announced
at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, with a prize of
€15,000 for each category – we’re keeping our
fingers crossed for the YEC!
Taiwan Cement
Corporation has announced, following
consultations with environmental organizations,
that it will stop purchasing Russian coal once
its final contract is completed in August 2024.
This decision is expected to significantly cut
Taiwan's Russian coal imports, which made up 17%
of the total in 2023. Advocacy organizations are
urging other companies, particularly Formosa
Plastics Group, to follow suit, highlighting the
role of fossil fuel revenues in funding Russia's
military aggression in Ukraine.
Activists from the
united platform "AES Kerek Emes" ("No Need for
Nuclear Power Plants"), including
representatives from CAN EECCA member
organizations, held a discussion titled "Nuclear
Power Plant – Energy or Politics?" on September
18. The discussion was featured on the
Kazakhstan YouTube channel HYPERBOREA. The
platform aims to voice the concerns of Kazakh
citizens opposed to the nuclear power plant
project, emphasizing the lack of meaningful
public discourse and the use of administrative
resources to push the project
forward.
The
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passed
a resolution urging Russia to withdraw military
personnel from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power
Plant (ZNPP) and return it to Ukrainian control,
ensuring its safety. Adopted during the IAEA's
68th General Conference, the resolution calls
for unrestricted access for IAEA experts to the
ZNPP. This would allow the IAEA to perform
proper oversight under Ukraine’s Comprehensive
Safeguards Agreement.
Moldova and France have
deepened their collaboration through a €25
million financing agreement from the French
Development Agency, aimed at accelerating
Moldova’s green energy transition. The
initiative focuses on decarbonizing the
country's energy sector, expanding renewable
energy production, and enhancing energy
efficiency. An additional €5 million in
technical assistance, provided by the European
Union, will further support the program. Signed
during the 5th Ministerial Conference of the
Moldova Partnership, this agreement marks a
major step toward modernizing Moldova’s energy
infrastructure to meet EU standards, ensuring
long-term sustainability and energy
independence.
Germany and Uzbekistan
have signed agreements to launch two key climate
resilience projects under their bilateral
cooperation. The first project, "Policy Dialogue
and Knowledge Management on Climate Protection
Strategies" (DIAPOL-CE), focuses on developing
Uzbekistan's national strategy for wetland
conservation, eco-tourism, and addressing
climate risks to the Sudochye Lake system. The
second project, "Green Central Asia Phase II,"
aims to enhance regional collaboration on
climate adaptation by updating climate action
plans, reducing emissions, and drafting a joint
Central Asian political declaration on climate
commitments.
Expeditions to the
Pahtakor Glacier, organized by Uzhydromet and
the German Research Centre for Geosciences, have
been tracking glacier mass changes and the
retreat of the ice tongue. During the most
recent expedition in August 2024, it was
observed that the glacier's surface had melted
by three meters, while the glacier itself had
retreated by 20 meters. These findings will be
crucial for monitoring climate change and its
effects on the region’s water
resources.
Young architect Ravil
Nurgisa has become the first Kazakh to win the
ICONIC AWARDS 2024 for his modern yurt design,
recognized for its eco-friendliness and
mobility. The project blends traditional
elements with cutting-edge technologies, such as
solar panels and autonomous wastewater treatment
systems. Nurgisa aims to bring his concept to
life to promote tourism in Kazakhstan and is
seeking support from the Ministry of
Tourism.
Gusinoozyorsk, a city
in Buryatia, is at risk of collapsing into old,
abandoned mines beneath it. Many homes are
sinking, and the air is filled with radioactive
radon, a common companion of coal in this
region. Residents have seen a rise in cancer
cases, which they link to radon exposure and the
deteriorating environmental conditions. While
they have repeatedly appealed for relocation,
the process has been slow, and their requests
remain largely unanswered by
authorities.
Following its control
of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan plans to turn
the region into a "green Silicon Valley,"
focusing on renewable energy with a major
emphasis on hydropower, solar, and wind
projects. The country has already built several
new hydropower plants, aiming to construct 40 in
total, as part of its broader green agenda ahead
of hosting COP29. However, there are concerns
about the environmental impact of rapid
development and lingering geopolitical tensions
with Armenia, which continue to threaten
long-term peace and stability in the
region.
Despite government
claims of progress, Russia and Central Asian
countries continue to grapple with serious
environmental issues. In Russia, worsening air
pollution and radon emissions are deteriorating
living conditions, while effective measures to
combat climate change remain insufficient. In
Central Asia, alongside industrial disasters
like gas leaks in Uzbekistan, there is a lack of
environmental awareness and minimal youth
engagement in tackling these pressing
issues.
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World Climate and Energy
News
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The
UN General Assembly adopted the Pact for the
Future on September 22, 2024, aiming to
accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals and
the transition away from fossil fuels. However,
we, the CAN EECCA Secretariat and Board, find it
lacking bold climate action, with only two of
its 56 pledges directly addressing climate
change. We view the pact's gradual approach to
reducing fossil fuel use and its focus on
"transitional fuels" as insufficient to tackle
the urgency of the climate crisis.
Turkey's Akkuyu nuclear
power plant has been delayed due to Siemens
Energy withholding key parts, likely due to
Western sanctions on Russia. As a result,
Russia's Rosatom has secured alternative parts
from China to maintain the project's timeline.
The plant, originally set to begin operation in
2023, is now expected to launch its first
reactor in 2025, with full completion by
2028.
Azerbaijan has proposed
a new climate fund to support developing
countries, financed by voluntary contributions
from fossil-fuel producers, but it may not
significantly boost available climate finance.
Negotiations on global climate finance are
currently stalled, with developing countries
pushing for a much larger annual fund than the
existing $100 billion, which wealthier nations
have struggled to meet. Azerbaijan's fund, while
well-intentioned, faces skepticism due to its
voluntary nature and may not attract enough
contributions to make a meaningful
impact.
World Now Has Five Times
More PV Than Nuclear
Power
The
World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2024 shows
that global photovoltaic (PV) capacity now
exceeds nuclear power by nearly fivefold, with
PV reaching approximately 2 TW compared to
nuclear’s 367 GW. The report underscores the
rapid expansion of solar energy and battery
storage, which are increasingly more
cost-effective and scalable than nuclear power.
Despite some new reactor constructions, nuclear
energy is losing relevance in the global market,
while solar-plus-storage is poised to be a
transformative force in shaping future energy
policies.
A
new study warns that 70% of the world's
population will face rapid increases in extreme
weather over the next 20 years if greenhouse gas
emissions are not cut significantly. Regions
like the Mediterranean, Southern America, and
Eastern Asia are projected to experience
unprecedented rates of change in rainfall and
temperature, particularly affecting vulnerable,
low-income countries. Even with strong
mitigation efforts, around 1.5 billion people
will still be impacted, highlighting the urgent
need for climate adaptation strategies.
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Climate and Energy
Opportunities
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This Berlin conference
will explore the devastating effects of military
conflicts on urban environments, social
structures, and ecosystems, with a focus on the
post-socialist space. It will address how
warfare leads to the destruction of cities,
environmental damage, and lasting cultural
trauma, using examples such as Mariupol,
Bakhmut, and Grozny. The event aims to bring
together researchers, activists, and citizens to
discuss these effects and explore ways to
rebuild communities and mitigate the
environmental consequences of
war.
On
September 28-29, the Aspan Gallery in Almaty
will host the Art Collider School’s open program
on art and science, focusing on the impact of
climate change and water scarcity in Central
Asia. The event will bring together experts and
scientists to discuss the region’s challenges
and propose strategies for preserving
ecosystems. Admission is free with registration,
and the program is part of the international
exhibition “Weaving Climate, Water, and
Communities.”
Civil society activists
and human rights defenders in the EU's Eastern
Partnership countries are facing heightened
risks, making it essential to strengthen their
security and protection strategies. A two-part
webinar series will offer an introduction to
managing these threats, providing tools and
resources to safeguard activists in Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and
Ukraine. Organized in collaboration with
Protection International and Human Rights House
Foundation on September 25 and 26, the webinars
aim to establish a protection infrastructure and
deliver practical solutions for activists
navigating increasingly hostile
environments.
This interregional
project invites universities from Central Asia
and the South Caucasus to take part in a study
promoting green initiatives and sustainable
practices on campus. The goal is to exchange and
highlight best practices for fostering
environmentally friendly campuses. Participating
universities are asked to complete an online
form and submit a video showcasing their green
efforts. The submission deadline is September
30, 2024.
The
Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation's
Environmental Photography Award aims to raise
global awareness about nature conservation
through the power of photography. Photographers
from around the world can compete in five
categories: Polar Wonders, Ocean Worlds, Into
the Forest, Humanity versus Nature, and Change
Makers: Reasons for Hope, with a grand prize of
€5,000. The submission deadline is November 3,
2024.
The
Security Conference 2024, held on December 16-17
at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, will focus on
food security, energy security, and
cybersecurity as key pillars of global
stability. The hybrid event will bring together
experts, policymakers, and researchers to
discuss sustainable solutions for these
interconnected challenges. Abstract submissions
are open until October 15, 2024, with limited
travel grants available for participants in need
of financial assistance.
UNESCO invites children
and youth from nine countries, including
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, to join the 2024 Youth
Innovation Contest, which focuses on addressing
global challenges like climate change,
biodiversity loss, and sustainable living.
Participants can submit their creative
works—ranging from paintings and stories to
poems and research essays—by September 30,
highlighting themes such as marine and
terrestrial ecosystems, sustainable cities, and
climate action. Winners will be honored with
various awards, including the opportunity to
attend the closing ceremony in China, with their
projects potentially showcased on international
platforms.
The
Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) will host
International Youth Climate Adaptation Day on
October 12, 2024, the largest annual event of
its kind, bringing together young people from
over 100 countries. This day is dedicated to
mobilizing, showcasing, and celebrating the
potential of youth in developing and
accelerating climate adaptation solutions. Young
people worldwide are encouraged to participate
in various activities, including the "My
Adaptation Solution" video competition and
organizing Youth Climate Adaptation Lighthouse
Events.
The
Global Greengrants Fund Small Grants Program is
still accepting project proposals from public
environmental organizations and initiative
groups in Central Asia, with a focus on projects
related to environmental justice, climate change
adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and other
environmental initiatives. There are three types
of grants available: in-country project grants,
regional project grants, and travel grants.
Applications will be accepted until October 1,
2024.
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Sent: Tuesday, September
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Subject: CAN EECCA
Newsletter: Nuclear Power and Geopolitics, Reaction to the UN Pact for the
Future, and an Innovative Yurt in Kazakhstan
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