Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan Launch Central Asian Climate Initiatives

Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are utilizing the COP31 World Leaders’ Summit in Antalya to advance distinct climate strategies for Central Asia. Uzbekistan is focusing on measurable commitments and investment, highlighted by the launch of the Climate-resilient Landscapes in Central Asia (CLiCA) programme. Funded with 103.7 million euros from the Green Climate Fund, the program aims to restore forests and pastureland across 15 districts as the nation targets a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP by 2035.

Turkmenistan is prioritizing the creation of international institutions and clean energy infrastructure. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov proposed the Ashgabat Climate Dialogue as a multilateral platform for coordinating climate adaptation and water resource use. Additionally, the government is advocating for a UN Regional Centre for Climate Change Technologies in Ashgabat.

While Uzbekistan focuses on landscape restoration, Turkmenistan is emphasizing hydrogen energy development and methane reduction, reporting an 11% decrease in methane emissions by the end of 2024. Both nations are responding to regional challenges including water shortages, land degradation, and desertification.