Ashgabat, 18 February 2019: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) creates a platform for national and international experts in the spheres of climate change, mitigation and adaptation to revise and create an updated version of the National strategy on climate change of Turkmenistan and prepare the Action plan for implementation of the Paris Agreement.

“The existing strategy was adopted in 2012 for eight years. The strategy reflected the most pressing issues at the time including mitigation and adaptation. However, the situation has drastically changed for the past six years and today we are tasked to update the National strategy according to the modern trends and living conditions,” explained Amangul Ovezberdyyeva, UNDP/GEF project manager.

Speaking about the current situation and the context of the climate change in Turkmenistan, experts noted that the country took various new international obligations, including the Paris Agreement, which require a number of actions. In addition, the effect of climate change on the economy and the lives of people has increased significantly.

“Paris Agreement member-states shall define their national contributions to the reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions and announce concrete adaptation measures for the vulnerable sectors of the economy. We are ready to provide support to the Government in updating the National Climate Change Strategy in line with its international commitments, and offering a fora for engaging all interested stakeholders into this important process,” noted Natia Natsvlishvili, a.i. UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan.

To revise the National strategy, UNDP and partners will conduct analysis of the socio-economic conditions of the population for 2011-2017 and define priority directions for adaptation and mitigation which will then be reflected in the updated draft strategy. The document shall be ready by summer 2019.

In 2019, UNDP will hold a series of consultations with participation of the public, universities, national partners, international and local experts. The series of consultations is held as part of the “Supporting climate resilient livelihoods in agricultural communities in drought-prone areas of Turkmenistan” project, funded by the Special climate change fund. Partners of the dialogue include the Ministry of agriculture and environment protection of Turkmenistan and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).