ROUNDTABLE DEDICATED TO THE 2021 UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE IN ASHGABAT

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan (MFA) jointly with the British Embassy in Turkmenistan organised roundtable dedicated to the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), which will take place in Glasgow, UK in November 202, in Ashgabat.

The meeting brought together representatives of relevant ministries and departments of Turkmenistan, UK Government, foreign diplomatic missions, international organisations, research institutions, development partners and donors.

The roundtable with local and international experts provided a good platform to discuss the global significance of COP26 and gave an opportunity to highlight existing areas of technical support and new finance opportunities.

In addition to providing a platform for generating new ideas and areas for international cooperation, especially in reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and transition towards low-carbon and renewable energy sources, the roundtable discussion also helped to demonstrate the achievements of Turkmenistan, which demonstrates its commitment to fulfil the undertaken obligations under global climate agreements.

The UK side was represented online by Ms. Janet Rogan, COP26 Regional Ambassador, Middle East and North Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, COP26 Unit. Ms. Rogan spoke about the UK government’s efforts tackling global climate change and UK’s priorities for COP26.

Rt Hon. Professor Charles Hendry CBE HonFEI, Former UK Minister of Energy & Climate Change and Former Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Turkmenistan, Berdi Berdiyev, Head of the Department of International Environmental Cooperation and Projects of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, Batyr Ballyyev, Project Manager, UNDP project “Sustainable cities in Turkmenistan” and Group Manager for the preparation of Turkmenistan’s Fourth National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Gurbuz Gonul, Director, Country Engagement and Partnerships Division, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Tim Gould, Head of the IEA’s Energy Supply Division, International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Turkmenoglu, EBRD Head of Turkmenistan , Sohail Hasnie Principal Energy Specialist, Central and West Asia Department, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Helena Molin Valdes, Head of the CCAC Secretariat, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and Manfredi Caltagirone, Programme Management Officer, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Dr John Rhys, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, United Kingdom, Professor Aganiyaz Jumayev, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of the Turkmen State Institute of Electrical Energy and other international experts took part in the forum.

As a result of the productive discussions, priority vectors on climate problem were identified, an overview of the global transformation of energy was given, the effective integration of solar and wind energy into the energy balance of Turkmenistan, financing of a green future, the application of a climate-optimized approach to agriculture for the sustainability of the agricultural sector were considered.

Given the importance of the subject matter and the fact that climate change affects negatively many people and countries around the world, experts agreed it was important to learn from each other and to continue the productive dialogue and exchange of professional experience in this important area.

At the end of the roundtable, experts thanked the organisers of the roundtable and expressed hope for a brighter and greener future for all.

Roundtable dedicated to the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference in Ashgabat (turkmenistan.gov.tm)