Ashgabat, November 14, 2018: In the conference hall of the capital hotel "Yyldyz" was organized the workshop on discussion updating the National Climate Change Strategy of Turkmenistan. This event was held within the framework of joint projects of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the State Committee for Environmental Protection and Land Resources of Turkmenistan “Supporting climate resilient livelihoods in agricultural communities in drought-prone areas of Turkmenistan” and “Sustainable Development of the Cities in Turkmenistan: Integrated Green Urban Development in Ashgabat and Avaza”.

The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss the process of updating the National Strategy of Turkmenistan on climate change, adopted by the Government of Turkmenistan in 2012.  Since adoption of National Strategy, many changes were made in the international negotiations on global climate change. In December 2015, the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) adopted the Paris Agreement, which brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects. Turkmenistan ratified the Paris Agreement and, along with other countries, made a voluntary commitment to reduce greenhouse emission into the atmosphere, and informed the UNFCCC Secretariat about choosing the direction of low carbon development of the country.

During the meeting, there was a discussion on the main directions of Turkmenistan in the field of climate change to fulfill the obligations of the Paris Agreement. Special attention was paid to the analysis of the results of the Third National Communication of Turkmenistan under UNFCCC, which allow to determine priority areas for adaptation and mitigation of climate change.

The workshop was held with participation of representatives of the national ministries and agencies of Turkmenistan, including Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Construction and Architecture, the Ministry of Road Transport, the National Committee of Hydrometeorology under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, and the State concerns "Turkmennebit", "Turkmengaz", "Turkmenhimiya". The UN agencies also participated in the meeting, as well as the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), international partner in the field of ecology.

In their speeches, participants showed the reports on undertaking actions to implement the National Strategy of Turkmenistan on Climate Change and their visions regarding the process of updating this strategy. At the end of the seminar, preliminary recommendations and proposals for the process of updating the strategy were stressed.