Turkmenistan at the CA-EU Climate Forum: emphasis on water and methane
Addressing the international forum "Central Asia in the Face of Global Climate Challenges: Consolidation for Common Prosperity" the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, emphasized the traditionally significant role of the climate agenda within the "Central Asia – European Union" format.
The Head of State expressed the view on the necessity of defining priority areas for cooperation and establishing a solid foundation for their implementation, considering the European Union as a promising partner in climate matters, based on a shared commitment to international conventions, treaties, and agreements, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.
Decarbonization and the reduction of methane emissions were highlighted as important aspects of cooperation. The President noted the significant practical steps undertaken by Turkmenistan in this direction, including the establishment of the Commission on Reducing Methane Emissions in 2023, accession to the Global Methane Pledge in December of the same year, and the adoption of the Roadmap for International Cooperation on Reducing Methane Emissions. As a result of these measures, Turkmenistan managed to reduce methane emissions by 11% by the end of 2024, exceeding the planned level.
The Head of State also focused on Turkmenistan's environmental initiatives of regional and global significance, such as the establishment of the Regional Center for Climate Technologies and the preparation of the Program for the Transition to a Circular Economy, expressing hope for the European Union's support in their implementation. Priorities for partnership with the EU were identified as the "green transition" in energy, industry, transport, and other key sectors of the economy. The President proposed intensifying dialogue on "green" issues, выделяя it as a separate area of cooperation and commencing the development of concrete plans for the near future.
Particular attention in the address was paid to water issues, which are of fundamental importance for the region. The President emphasized that the technological and methodological assistance of the European Union could positively influence the resolution of existing challenges and outlined Turkmenistan's position, based on respect for international law, mutual consideration of interests, and the involvement of international organizations, primarily the UN. In order to preserve good neighborliness and develop cooperation in Central Asia, as well as to establish a mechanism for water use from transboundary rivers, Turkmenistan proposed that the UN General Assembly consider an initiative on the creation of a UN Regional Council on Water Use in the Countries of Central Asia.
Saving the Aral Sea was identified as another key issue for the environmental and socio-economic well-being of the region. Turkmenistan expressed hope for a more concrete and focused international discussion of this problem and the development of support measures for the activities of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea based on the relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly, proposing to jointly strive for the full implementation of these documents.
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