Turkmenbashi, 25-26 September 2018.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the State Committee for Environmental Protection and Land Resources of Turkmenistan, with the financial support of the Global Environment Fund (GEF), launched a joint project “Sustainable Cities in Turkmenistan: Integrated Green Urban Development in Ashgabat and Avaza”. In this regard, in the conference hall of the "Hazar" hotel in "Avaza" National touristic zone, an inception seminar was held on discussion and agreement of the activities and issues related to project planning and implementation. The event is held as part of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the efforts of the Government in introduction of the innovative practices and measures to combat climate change and its consequences.

The seminar was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Construction and Architecture, the Ministry of Road Transport, the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, State Committee for Tourism, the Major State Service "Turkmenstandartlary", the National Committee of Hydrometeorology under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, Municipality of Ashgabat, Municipality of Turkmenbashi, the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, the Public Association for the Protection of Nature of Turkmenistan, the Ozone Center, the Aarhus Center, the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia, and staff of UNDP and the media.

During the meeting, there was a discussion on the current situation and analyzing of possible steps for the implementation of the three key project areas in the context of climate change: 1) sustainable urban transport solutions, 2) development of energy efficiency, 3) reduction of waste volumes and processing. In addition, the Project Council was established. 

“According to UN survey in 2015, more than 60% of the world's population will live in cities by 2030. Consequently, future of these people will be related to the cities, so it is very important to make cities sustainable in the context of SDGs” noted Batyr Ballyyev, Project manager.

At the end of the seminar, the partners discussed several preliminary activities planned within the framework of this project. Noting the exceptional importance of the project, the participants expressed their confidence that the realization of all planned activities and measures will directly promote and implement integrated low-carbon urban systems in Ashgabat and Avaza, thereby reducing GHG emissions and creating other environmental, social, and economic development benefits, in particular on energy-efficient public lighting, waste management, and sustainable transport development.