On 29 November, Bishkek hosted the third regular meeting of the Regional Working Group (RWG) on the implementation of the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategy in Central Asia. The meeting was held within the framework of the Green Central Asia initiative and aimed to discuss and agree on further steps to implement the Strategy.
Participants from five Central Asian countries met to discuss recommendations for implementing the Strategy and developing mechanisms for identifying adaptation projects and attracting funding for their implementation. Issues related to the newly established Temporary Secretariat of the RWG were also on the agenda. In particular, the elected Head of the Secretariat was introduced, who shared the work plans and priorities of the RWG Secretariat in the short term. Participants also reviewed the draft Regulation on the RWG, which outlines the working procedures and interaction between RWG participants and the Secretariat and were presented with a report by the Collective Leadership Institute containing specific recommendations to ensure the most effective implementation of the Strategy – the result of extensive work by the Institute’s team together with representatives of government agencies and organisations from Central Asian countries. Participants also listened to presentations on projects in agriculture, forestry and other land use sectors, as well as on a project to create small grants to finance renewable agriculture and climate innovation projects and learned about the OSCE Strategy for Regional Cooperation on Climate Change and Security in the Central Asian Highlands. These projects were presented for discussion of potential areas of interaction and consideration of sources of co-financing for projects under the Strategy.
In addition, the participants learnt about the experience of developing the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) for Climate Change in the Kyrgyz Republic and discussed the possibilities of interfacing the NAP with the Strategy Implementation Plan.
The next WG meeting will be held in May 2025 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
