On 6 June 2022, Dushanbe hosted the “CENTRAL ASIA FORUM – WATER FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION” as part of the Second Decade of Water Action Conference, organized in line with the strong appeal to create a “dialogue platform to discuss relevant issues of regional cooperation”, initiated by the summit of Central Asian Heads of State held in Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan) in March 2018, and subsequent meetings in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) in November 2019 and Avaza (Turkmenistan) in August 2021.
As part of this representative forum, the Green Central Asia Initiative implemented by GIZ in partnership with the Team Europe Initiative in Central Asia of the European Union held Panel Session 3 ‘Water Resources, Environment and Resilience to Climate Change’.
The Panel focused on water diplomacy and climate change-sensitive transboundary water and environmental cooperation in Central Asia, opportunities for public and private investments, specific needs and contributions to water and energy cooperation in Central Asia, sustainable use of water and other natural resources, and water-related disaster risk reduction. Particular attention was also paid to the issues of necessary commitments on the part of Central Asian partner countries and international stakeholders in the region.
The session was attended by more than 80 specialists and representatives of CA countries and partners and represented by the relevant representatives as H.E. Ms. Terhi Hakala, European Union Special Representative for Central Asia, Ambassador H.Thoelken, Special Advisor for International Climate at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, Ms. Karin Marmsoler, Federal Foreign Office Germany, as well as representatives of SDC, WB, ADB, GIZ and others.
Key Messages
Strengthening regional cooperation and management of water, energy and environment in Central Asia to mitigate and adapt to climate change
Targeted investments for a regionally integrated green energy transition are crucial for sustainable development in Central Asia
Enhanced coordination between donors and development partners and alignment with government strategies can help address the water, energy, and environmental sectors in the context of climate change
Next steps and partnerships
-. Launch of a new regional Team Europe initiative on water, energy and climate change in Central Asia to promote a sustainable and equitable green transition in Central Asia
–. Mutual support between Green Central Asia and the regional Team Europe initiative, as well as other regional programs of other stakeholders, to create synergy and avoid duplication
-. Continuation of existing coordination mechanisms between donors and development partners, involving Central Asian governments and regional organizations
