What is the project about

Climate change has emerged as one of the most important issues facing the humanity in the 21st century. Many regions, communities, ecosystems and industries are vulnerable to the climate change impacts, which include a shift of general climatic conditions, increased risk of natural disasters and a high level of uncertainty about the future climate.

Climate Action is an integral part of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda that stresses that climate change "adverse impacts undermine the ability of all countries to achieve sustainable development.

Central Asia's semi-arid and arid climate will likely experience further aridification, affecting food production and availability of water resources. In the last fifty years, glaciers in Central Asia are estimated to have receded by 25% and equal amount is expected to disappear in the next 20 years.

There is a concern that water shortages may prove to be the main impediment to the development of Central Asian countries both under current conditions (around 50% of water used for irrigation is lost to inefficient irrigation technologies) and in the future (increasingly due to decreasing availability of snowpack and glaciers).

In the desert country of Turkmenistan, already extremely hot and dry, for the past five decades climate warming has been observed and documented as occurring at a faster pace than anywhere else on the planet. The country is projected to experience an increase in average ambient temperature by up to 6-7 ^oc by the year 2100, while hydrometeorological modeling forecasts steadily declining precipitation nationwide by 8-17% through 2100 and beyond.

“Climate Box” project aims to educate and raise the awareness on the climate change among the school students of the region. For that, national experts will adapt the national version of the Climate Box. Upon completion of the adaptation of the national version, the textbook will be sent for consideration and approval to the Government of Turkmenistan.

The project is funded by the Government of the Russian Federation.

What we aim to accomplish

Component 1: Conducting introductory “Climate Box” workshop in regions

Component 2: Preparation of localized “Climate Box” toolkits in four new countries (Armenia, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan)

Component 3: Conducting final workshop to present the adapted “Climate Box” toolkit in four new countries (Armenia, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan)

Component 4: Publication of localized version of “Climate Box”

Component 5: Holding climate change awareness and advocacy and enhancing regional cooperation based on the Climate Box platform