Almaty hosts Central Asian conf on climate change, preparing for COP29

Almaty is hosting the Central Asian Conference on Climate Change (CACCC-2024) with the participation of delegations of Central Asian countries and international experts to discuss topical issues of sustainable water and land management, energy, food security, and environmental sustainability in the context of climate change in the region.

Trend reports with reference to the World Bank that the conference also serves as a preparatory stage for the countries to discuss the participation of Central Asian governments in the upcoming 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), scheduled for November 11-22, 2024, in Baku.

During the conference, participants review progress, challenges, and gaps in the implementation of climate commitments by Central Asian countries, carbon neutrality, green transition, and security issues, and explore collective action to reduce climate-related disaster risks. The potential for strengthening regional cooperation on climate change adaptation is also being discussed.

For example, Zafar Makhmudov, executive director of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia, speaking at the conference, noted that the region is vulnerable to the adverse effects of a rapidly changing climate, given its agricultural economy, aging infrastructure, and rapid population growth.

“Under these circumstances, there is a clear need for improved regional cooperation on energy and water management along with approaches to climate change adaptation. The conference aims to strengthen this cooperation to enhance the resilience of the region,” he said.

For her part, World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia Tatiana Proskuryakova emphasised that climate change is an urgent problem and Central Asian countries will only be able to solve it if they work together.

“This means addressing a wide range of issues simultaneously, from adopting and implementing green policies to deploying green finance and investments in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and natural resource management,” she said.

Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in November this year. The decision was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11, 2023. Baku, having become the center of the world, will host about 70,000-80,000 foreign guests during the two weeks.