Ashgabat, 7 July 2021: Today, within the framework of the joint UNDP and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan project "Sustainable Cities in Turkmenistan: Integrated Green Urban Development in Ashgabat and Avaza” a working meeting has been conducted aimed at creation of a platform for strategic discussions and sharing experiences in the field of environmental protection, waste management and efficient use of natural resources.

The meeting gathered the representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Construction and Architecture, Hakimlik of Ashgabat and the Society of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan to discuss and facilitate further coordination of joint efforts in achieving project objectives. In particular, the meeting aimed at initiation of the inter-agency dialogue in the field of the management and monitoring of air and water pollution, and waste management to increase the effectiveness of the related regulatory and technical documentation.

During the meeting, UNDP project specialists presented the draft versions of the National Strategy of Turkmenistan on Waste Management and Programme on Improving the State Monitoring and Control of Air and Water Pollution in the cities of Turkmenistan. Participants also reviewed the draft of Waste Classifier and Waste Classification codes, as well as criteria for classifying hazardous waste as dangerous to environment and human health.

Participants provided valuable recommendations to the abovementioned environmental documentation, that will eventually lead to a creation of an effective mechanism for improving the waste management and monitoring of environmental pollution in the country.

***

The "Sustainable Cities in Turkmenistan: Integrated Green Urban Development in Ashgabat and Avaza” project is focused on reducing the negative impacts of urban growth in the country, such as air pollution, increase in energy consumption and household waste, while also supporting the achievement of social and economic development goals.  The project provides technical assistance, institutional and policy support, and promotes behavioral change in relation to rational consumption and waste management covering Ashgabat and Avaza, while also creating a basis for replication of results in other cities in Turkmenistan.