Ashgabat, 2 December 2020: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) participated in the video conference  “Preservation of the unique nature and ecological system of Turkmenistan is the key to sustainable development” organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Protection of Turkmenistan and dedicated to the 25^th anniversary of the Neutrality of Turkmenistan.

“Climate Change remains one of the acute problems of the contemporary world. Nations need to rethink and revise the development trajectories towards more sustainable pathways. UNDP fully supports Turkmenistan Government's commitments to the environmental sustainability and the Paris agenda  and is ready to  further foster our cooperation in these directions”, noted Ms. Natia Natsvlishvili, the UNDP Resident Representative a.i. during the speech at the video conference.

During the conference, the participants presented their experience and results based on   implementation of the projects in the field of environment protection, climate change, agriculture, water management, initiatives in the field of marine environment protection.

After the conference, highlighting fruitful and reliable cooperation, the UNDP and Government have signed several strategic cooperation documents:

• Memorandum of Understanding between the UNDP and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Protection of Turkmenistan on cooperation in the field of environment protection;
• Memorandum of Understanding between the UNDP and the State Committee for Water Management of Turkmenistan on cooperation in the field of improving the management, protection and use of water resources;
• Annual Work Plan for 2021 of the joint project between the UNDP and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Protection of Turkmenistan “Sustainable Cities in Turkmenistan: Integrated Green Urban Development in Ashgabat and Avaza”;
• Annual Work Plan for 2021 of the joint project between the UNDP and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Protection of Turkmenistan “Supporting climate resilient livelihoods in agricultural communities in drought-prone areas of Turkmenistan”;
• Annual Work Plan for 2021 of the joint project between the UNDP and the State Committee for Water Management of Turkmenistan “Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for Sustainable Water Management in Turkmenistan”.

The existing cooperation will be continued and extended through the development and implementation of strategies and joint projects in the field of environmental protection in Turkmenistan. The UNDP stands ready to support and continue active partnership in this area for the sustainable development of Turkmenistan and promote the environmental well-being of the country.