On May 27-29, 2024, Almaty hosted the Central Asia Climate Change Conference (CACCC 2024), organised by the Regional Environmental Centre of Central Asia (CAREC). It brought together experts and stakeholders from all over the region to discuss its climate change challenges and solutions. GIZ, along with other partners, supported the event and contributed to the agenda with its insights on climate risk management and regional climate change adaptation efforts.
Photo: © CAREC 2024. Tortsen Brezina, GIZ Cluster Coordinator for Climate, Water, and Energy in Central Asia, addressed the participants at the opening and closing sessions.
In regard, the “Climate Risk Management in Central Asia” (CRM CA) programme showcased its approaches and results in Session A1, “Building Resilience: Responding to Climate Driven Disasters” and Panel Session 5, “Central Asian Initiatives for Strengthening Regional Climate Cooperation”.
Community-Focused Approach to Climate Risk Management
Session A1 featured experts from IFRC, ACTED, CESDRR, GIZ, and WFP. They all noted that climate risks exacerbate existing inequalities, disproportionately affecting different groups of people. Simultaneously, the number of disasters is increasing due to climate change, population growth, and changes in land use. Therefore, integrating disaster risk reduction with focus on local communities and climate change adaptation enhances the implementation of the Sendai Framework and the Paris Agreement, supporting resilience to climate-driven disasters through early warning systems, preparedness, and the ability of human and natural systems to adapt, recover, and thrive amidst climate impacts.
Overviewing activities in Central Asia, the speakers highlighted support for educational programs and campaigns, access to technology and research, and decision-making mechanisms. For example, the CRM CA programme addresses climate risks with a focus on transboundary solutions based on the needs of local stakeholders. The programme team conducts participatory assessments of climate risks to identify and partially implement measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change in chosen basins. The research results will also be used by local authorities in developing climate adaptation action plans. Additionally, the methodology relies on existing vulnerability assessments (CRVAs), which helps accumulate and continue the acquired knowledge in the region, and this is also one of the programme’s approaches.
Session A1 concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between CESDRR and CAREC. Both organizations are strategic partners of CRM CA in Central Asia.
Photo: © CAREC 2024
Photo: © CESDRR 2024. Sergey Makarov, CRM CA Programme Director, Joy Muller, Humanitarian Diplomacy Delegate for Central Asia, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Serik Aubakirov, Director of Center for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction (CESDRR).
Strengthening Collaboration
In the end of the conference, Panel Session 5 focused on best practices and identified concrete areas for Central Asian countries to collaborate in the coming years to accelerate climate resilience. Here, CRM CA Programme Director, Sergey Makarov, stressed the importance of a robust regional approach at all levels, alongside strengthening scientific, technical, institutional, and human resources. It is vital to coordinate between international development agencies outside of individual projects to ensure greater efficiency.
“We always support our partners in their regional cooperation in addressing environmental protection issues. This conference has long been an important platform for mutual sharing knowledge and experience, including on transboundary climate risk management, contributing to sustainable future for Central Asia, and it is important for us to be here,” he concluded.
Further Information
For news, reports, and recordings from CACCC 2024, please visit the CAREC website here.
