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Climate Action
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On August 3, 2023, the measured
life of the Georgian resort of Shovi was
disrupted by a natural disaster. A powerful
landslide from the mountain slopes hit the
village. Tons of mud and rocks buried dozens of
houses under them, turning the once picturesque
area into a place of disaster. The tragedy took
the lives of thirty-three people, leaving a deep
wound on the heart of the Georgian people. How
did it happen and is it possible to prevent
casualties in the event of a repeat of the
disaster? Read in our material.
On
June 3, 2024, the World Bank approved $40 mln
for Armenia's clean energy transition project,
which includes modernizing power transmission
substations and attracting private investment.
Armenia aims to reduce dependence on fuel
imports and plans to integrate 1.1 GW of
renewable energy into the grid by 2032. This
will provide electricity to 690,000 households
and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 540,000
tons per year.
On
August 6, the first meeting of energy ministers
of Central Asia and Azerbaijan was held in
Astana, where they discussed, among other
things, the development of green energy. Head of
the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan emphasized
the importance of transition to low-carbon
energy sources and cooperation in the field of
renewable energy. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and
Azerbaijan agreed to establish a joint venture
in Baku to export green energy to Europe, which
will strengthen the region's energy
infrastructure.
Since 2016, the
Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) has
been working to preserve ecosystems in the
mountains of Central Asia by supporting civil
society organizations through a grant program. A
new illustrated report prepared by CEPF and the
environmental network Zoï presents the
contributions of these organizations to wildlife
conservation and the achievement of biodiversity
conservation goals. The report briefly
summarizes the outcomes of the projects and
emphasizes the importance of climate change
adaptation and addressing funding
challenges.
"Green
Alternative", a member of CAN EECCA in Georgia,
presented recommendations to the draft Tbilisi
Agglomeration Air Quality Management Plan for
2024-2026. The organization noted that an
effective plan can positively affect public
health and improve the quality of life and
environment in the capital city. However, more
efforts and specific responsibilities are needed
to address air pollution problems in
Tbilisi.
The
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in
Kazakhstan, in collaboration with the Ministry
of Ecology and Natural Resources and supported
by the Green Climate Fund, is launching a
project to integrate climate adaptation into the
country's strategic planning. This initiative
will lead to the development of a National
Adaptation Plan, addressing the impacts of
climate change across various sectors such as
forestry, water resources, agriculture, and
civil protection. The project emphasizes the
need for coordination at all levels and aims to
attract both national and international funding
to implement effective adaptation
measures.
Energy
Minister Taalaibek Ibraev said that due to hot
weather, daily electricity consumption in
Kyrgyzstan exceeded 40 million kilowatt-hours,
which is much higher than the usual level of
32-35 million kilowatt-hours. He emphasized that
such a high level of consumption is observed for
the first time and may lead to problems in
winter due to increased water consumption from
reservoirs. The minister urged citizens to save
electricity to avoid possible difficulties in
the future.
The
High Level Political Forum, held annually in
July, discusses the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs). According to Irina Ponedelnik, an
expert from the Green Network, the forum
discussed problems related to financing and
citizens' trust in their governments to achieve
the SDGs by 2030. She emphasizes that funding
and human rights issues are hindering the
achievement of the SDGs in Belarus, where
environmental activists are persecuted and
international commitments are not
met.
Russian
President Vladimir Putin has approved a number
of instructions aimed at improving the
environmental situation in the country,
including improving energy efficiency and
developing technologies to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. Kazakhstan has identified
environmental problems such as mass deaths of
crayfish and fish, as well as fines for
violations of environmental laws totaling 40
billion tenge. Kyrgyzstan has begun to actively
implement environmental measures, including the
installation of cameras to control trash
emissions and monitoring of water quality in
Lake Issyk-Kul, despite ongoing construction
that threatens the environment.
Moldova is facing
severe climate change impacts, with signs of
desertification becoming increasingly evident.
Experts emphasize the urgent need for
reforestation and sustainable resource
management to combat these challenges. The new
Climate Action Law, implemented in 2024, aims to
reduce the country's vulnerability and align its
efforts with the goals of the Paris
Agreement.
An analysis of
long-term data shows that average annual
temperatures across various regions of
Tajikistan are steadily increasing. According to
climatologist Nomvar Kurbon, the country needs
to take urgent measures to adapt to climate
change, including sustainable land use and water
resource management. Artificial intelligence
tools used by the CABAR.asia editorial team
predict that by 2070, average annual
temperatures in key cities of Tajikistan will
continue to rise.
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A
nearly three-year investigation by Democrats in
Congress into the fossil fuel industry concluded
that major oil companies have been misleading
the public about climate change and their
climate solutions, such as biofuels and carbon
capture, while continuing to obstruct
investigations by providing minimal and often
irrelevant documents. Internal documents and
whistleblower testimonies revealed that these
companies were far less optimistic about the
effectiveness of carbon capture and storage
(CCS) technology than their public statements
suggested, acknowledging its limited potential
for significant emissions reduction.
A
study by University College London found that
girls are more responsive to climate change
lessons but experience higher levels of anxiety
than boys, with 44% of girls worrying a lot or
all the time about the future compared to 27% of
boys. The research suggests that a holistic
approach to climate education, which includes
outdoor learning and addresses health and
well-being, could help mitigate this anxiety.
The study also highlights a lack of engagement
with climate-focused careers in schools, with
only 31% of students seeing climate education as
translating into job opportunities, and
recommends enhancing sustainability education
and green career provision.
Heathlands
across Europe are crucial for migratory birds as
stopover sites for rest, food, and breeding, but
they are increasingly threatened by prolonged
heatwaves and rising temperatures, leading to a
15% decrease in bird usage this year. These
ecosystems, which support species like the tree
pipit, are facing significant degradation, with
their extent decreasing by 1.2% due to factors
like afforestation, fires, and urban sprawl
exacerbated by climate change. Conservation
efforts are critical, as heathlands not only
support biodiversity and migratory birds but
also act as vital carbon sinks and play a role
in maintaining ecological balance.
Artificial
intelligence (AI) has transformed various
aspects of human life and holds potential for
addressing environmental challenges like climate
change through energy efficiency, urban
infrastructure improvements, sustainable
agriculture, and environmental monitoring.
However, AI also poses significant environmental
costs, such as high energy consumption during
model training and usage, substantial water
requirements for cooling data centers, and
broader impacts like increased fossil fuel
extraction and consumption driven by AI-enhanced
advertising.
Climate
change is predicted to increase the frequency
and severity of wildfires in the boreal forest,
a significant global CO₂ sink, which can release
large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere and
exacerbate climate change. Research in Sweden's
boreal forest shows that even after the
wildfires have ceased, CO₂ emissions continue
for years, doubling the initial emissions from
the fire itself, and it may take over 40 years
for the forest to recapture the released carbon.
The study highlights that post-fire forest
management practices, such as salvage logging,
can hinder vegetation recovery and suggests that
leaving surviving trees standing may be more
effective for restoring the forest's role as a
carbon sink.
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Internews’
Earth Journalism Network is offering virtual
fellowships for journalists to cover the UN
Biodiversity (COP16) and Climate Change (COP29)
Conferences. The program will be conducted in
English, and applications are open until August
15, 2024. Selected participants will receive
training, mentorship, and support to report
remotely on these significant global
events.
n-ost
and MediaNet invite journalists and
communicators from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to
an English-language training on climate
journalism and communications, which will take
place from September 12 to 14, 2024, in Almaty.
Participants selected through a competitive
process will have the opportunity to propose
ideas for interactive stories on climate change,
which they will work on for 6 to 8 weeks
following the training. Applications, including
a working title and a brief summary of the
story, are accepted until August 13.
The
CAREC 2024 Gender Climate Awards program, under
the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation
(CAREC), is now accepting nominations. This
award aims to recognize individuals and
organizations that have made significant
contributions to promoting gender equality and
climate resilience. Applications are open until
August 15, 2024, and can be submitted in
English, Russian, or Chinese.
The
Fall 2024 FXB Climate Advocates Program will run
from September 7 to November 22, 2024, with all
sessions held in English via Zoom. The
application deadline is August 16, 2024, and
there are 125 spots available. Eligible
candidates must be 25 years old or younger, have
an interest in climate action, and commit to a
minimum of 3 hours per week for the
program.
Climate
Home News is extending its “Clean Energy
Frontier” series and is seeking pitches for
stories focused on the supply chains of clean
energy technologies. They are looking for
longform stories (1,500-1,700 words) that
explore the energy transition, its impact on
sustainable development, and its potential to
create jobs while addressing inequalities.
Pitches should be submitted by journalists with
at least three years’ experience, and the
stories should be accompanied by visual
elements.
The
Global Centre for Climate Mobility is inviting
applications for the COP29 Youth Delegate
Program. Young people aged 18 to 30 from Africa,
the Pacific, Asia, Latin America, and the
Caribbean can apply to become either Climate
Mobility Youth Delegates or Rising Nations Youth
Delegates. Applications must be submitted by
September 1, 2024, and the program will cover
travel and accommodation expenses for selected
delegates to participate in COP29 in Baku from
November 11 to 22, 2024.
The
Just Transition Forum Asia 2024 will take place
online from September 4 to 6, 2024, bringing
together experts from various sectors across
Asia and beyond. This year's forum will focus on
"Emphasizing Finance for Loss and Damage in Just
Transition," offering insightful discussions,
interactive panels, and networking
opportunities. Don't miss the chance to join
this important event — register now and mark
your calendars!
The
16th European Youth Parliament for Water will
take place in Hungary from October 20 to 26,
2024, focusing on the theme "Water and
Biodiversity." The organizers invite young
people aged 18 to 30 with a strong interest in
issues related to the water sector,
biodiversity, international relations,
development studies, political science, law,
environmental science, engineering etc. to apply
by August 31. The program will be conducted in
English, and selected participants will receive
support for international and local
transportation, accommodation, and
meals.
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Sent: Tuesday, August 13,
2024 4:00 PM
Subject: CAN EECCA
Newsletter: Shovi tragedy anniversary, Kyrgyzstan's electricity appetite
and a lot of opportunities to apply
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