3-4 April 2019, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Climate change impacts are nowadays observed in all key development sectors with Central Asia to having one of the highest vulnerability levels. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported 2013-2018 the warmest on record. Although the global community undertakes serious efforts to fight against climate change and adopted new global agreements (Paris Agreement in 2015 and rulebook in 2018), air temperature keeps its rising level along with the concentration of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
The countries of Central Asia set their climate agenda around global policy and commitments, national climate actions, mobilization of resources, transfer of new technologies and best practices both on climate adaptation and mitigation. At the same time, strengthening of policy dialogue between the countries and activation of decision-making process at the highest official level on above mentioned is the best indicator of the effectiveness of mutual cooperation.
The Central Asia Climate Change Conference 2019 (CACCC-2019) aims to bring the priorities of Central Asia into focus, and structure the content of the event into pre-conference and conference sessions. The CACCC-2019 is a continuation of the World Bank’s initiative for climate change knowledge and information exchange in Central Asia, and is organized under the frameworks of CAMP4ASB project. The previous CACCC was organized on January 24-25, 2018 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and resulted in joint collaborative actions of many stakeholders. The findings of the CACCC-2018 are elaborated into key messages and formulated the thematic content for the CACCC-2019 programme.
The main objective of the 2019 Central Asia Climate Change Conference is to promote regional cooperation and partnership on climate adaptation and mitigation in Central Asia. The event also aims at fostering regional dialogue, knowledge and information exchange on climate change and help building a climate resilient future. It is also expected that the conference will give an impetus to the implementation of multi-sectoral development programs in Aral Sea basin and attract new investments to the initiatives on sustainable development in the region.
The Outcome Document in the format of a Call for Actions is expected to contain practical recommendations for the countries of Central Asia to step forward on climate adaptation measures and strengthen a multi-country partnership on climate policy.
The Conference intends to bring more than 300 representatives from governmental and non-governmental agencies, academia, youth, development and regional partners, multilateral development banks and CSOs that work in the area of climate change. Additionally, the Conference will strive to co-partner with national and international partners, who implement similar climate change projects in the region, to have a better synergy and provide most up-to-date information and knowledge on climate change.
Three pre-conference sessions will be organized on April 2, 2019:
The first session will focus on building scientific and professional capacities for effective water resource management and climate actions. The event will be organized jointly by USAID Smart Waters project, World Bank CAMP4ASB project, World Bank Institute, as well as EU CA Nexus Dialogues project and intends to discuss current gaps; showcase relevant opportunities and ongoing initiatives in the region and beyond; to determine further needs for developing research and academic capacities in Central Asia, as well as the ways for cooperation between national academic partners of the region and with international scientific institutions. The pre-conference session is expected to lay down the ground to advancing the capacities of local research and academic institutions for raising climate professionals, researchers and deepening interdisciplinary approach and knowledge base on climate change and water management.
The second session, which is to be organized jointly with the National Coordination Unit (NCU) of the World Bank’s CAMP4ASB project, will focus on informing about the up-to-date progress in implementation of local climate investment initiatives, and establishment of new partnership to scale-up and replicate successful practices and technologies, which proved to be effective in the region. It is expected that the pre-conference session will determine tasks and areas of cooperation in expanding climate resilient technologies in energy, agriculture and water sectors.
The third session “One planet – one future … Empowering youth for climate actions” will be dedicated to mobilize youth voices for climate change action. The pre-conference session will engage youth from partner’s educational institutions and alumni of the Central-Asia Leadership Program on Environment for Sustainable Development (CALP). The master students, who are winners of student competitions on climate change and water resources, are expected to present their research findings. A new generation of young managers with a broader understanding of the value and benefits of regional cooperation, innovative thinking, 21st century skills and open to dialogue is a prerequisite for the successful partnership on climate change, energy efficiency and water resources in the region.
The 2-day Central Asia Climate Change Conference will be divided into five Plenary Sessions on: (1) Global climate policy and national commitments (2) Climate change impacts and adaptation in global and regional context (3) Climate services (4) Climate technologies and practices (5) Climate finance.
Furthermore, during the Day 2 of the Conference, five Parallel Sessions will be conducted, which will focus on (a) knowledge platforms and communication on climate change; (b) integrated natural resources management approaches in Central Asia; (c) science and evidence-based water and land management solutions for strengthening climate resilience in Central Asia; (d) regional environment protection for sustainable development in the context of climate change; and (e) the role of civil society and private sector in activating climate actions in Central Asia.
During conference, the exhibitions will be organized to demonstrate a set of best technologies and practices on climate adaptation, which proved to be effective on site.
| Day 1 (Wednesday): 3 April 2019 | |
| 08:00 – 09:00 | Registration of participants. |
| 09:00 – 10:00 | Opening Session |
| Moderators: | |
| - Dr. Bakhriddin Nishonov, First Deputy General Director, Centre of Hydrometeorological Service at the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Uzhydromet) (rus) | |
| - Dr. Iskandar Abdullaev, Executive Director, CAREC | |
| Speakers: | |
| - On behalf of the Hosting Government (TBD) | |
| - Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Interim President of the World Bank (video-message) | |
| - Dr. Iskandar Abdullaev, Executive Director, CAREC | |
| - Mr. Benoît Bosquet, Director for Environment and Natural Resources, the World Bank | |
| - Mr. Guizgeldi Baidzhanov, Chair of the Executive Committee, IFAS | |
| Heads of Delegations of Central Asian countries: | |
| - Republic of Kazakhstan-Mr. Bekbergen Kerey, Deputy Head of International Relations Department, Ministry of Energy | |
| - Republic of Tajikistan-Mr. Karimjon Abdualimov, Deputy Director, Agency of Hydrometeorology | |
| - Turkmenistan- Dr. Jumamurat Saparmuradov, Head of the Environment and Hydrometeorology Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection | |
| - Republic of Uzbekistan- Dr. Bakhriddin Nishonov, First Deputy General Director, Center of hydrometeorology Services, Uzhydromet | |
| 10:00 – 10:15 | Introductory Session |
| - Dr. Iskandar Abdullaev, Executive Director, Presentation, CAREC | |
| 10:15 – 10:45 | Coffee-break and group photo |
| 10:45 – 12:30 | Session 1. Global climate policy and national commitments |
| It is expected that the UNFCCC Secretariat will provide a keynote speech about global climate regime and mechanisms of the Paris Agreement’s implementation and key decisions taken at COP-24, especially focusing on the adopted rulebook. The speech will be accompanied by the statements from the side of the countries of Central Asia to highlight the progress against the given global and national climate commitments. The panel discussion would feature UNFCCC national focal point from each Central Asian country to highlight the progress made to address the commitments under the Paris Agreement and the needs, which stand at cornerstone of their national climate agenda. | |
| Moderator: Mr. Bekbergen Kerey, Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan | |
| Speakers: | |
| 10:45 – 11.00 Dr. Olga Pilifosova, UNFCCC Secretariat: Global Climate Policy: making the Paris Agreement work for all | |
| 11.00 – 12.15 Key speeches of the National UNFCCC Focal Points/Heads of national delegations – panel discussion | |
| - Republic of Kazakhstan-Mr. Bekbergen Kerey, Deputy Head of International Relations Department, Ministry of Energy | |
| - Republic of Tajikistan- Mr. Karimjon Abdualimov, Deputy Director, Agency of Hydrometeorology | |
| - Turkmenistan-Mr. Kurban Allaberdyev, UNFCCC national Focal Point (rus) | |
| - Republic of Uzbekistan- Dr. Bakhriddin Nishonov, First Deputy General Director, Center of hydrometeorology Services, Uzhydromet (rus) | |
| 12.15 – 12.30 Q&A | |
| 12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch (on site) |
| 13:30 – 15:30 | Session 2. Climate impacts and adaptation in global and regional context |
| The consequences of global warming even by 1.5°C will be far dramatic than expected, and require substantial mitigation and adaptation efforts from international community. The main objective of the session is to present and discuss climate change impacts and needed joint measures to avoid worst impacts on ecosystems, built-environment, human health, and well-being. The session will be supplemented with latest scientific evidence on climate change and respective adaptation and mitigation measures in Central Asia. | |
| Moderator: Dr. Abdulkhamid Kayumov, Academy of Science of Tajikistan | |
| Speakers: | |
| 13:30 – 13:45 Dr. Youba Sokona, IPCC Vice-Chair (video message): Findings from Special Report on 1.5°C and how to contribute to the work of IPCCC | |
| 13:45 – 14:00 Ms. Irina Bekmirzaeva, CAMP4ASB/CAREC: The role of CAMP4ASB project in activating climate change interventions in Central Asia | |
| 14:00 – 14:15 Dr. Vladimir Kendrovski, WHO: Climate change impacts on human health: WHO Regional and sub-regional perspectives | |
| 14:15 – 14:30 Mr. Alexander Merkushkin, Adaptation Fund project: Adaptation to climate change in Aral Sea basin: challenges and opportunities | |
| 14:30 – 14:45 Dr. Tomas Saks, the University of Fribourg: Glaciers of Tien Shan and Pamir in a changing climate | |
| 14:45 – 15:00 Dr. Anastasia Lobanova, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research: Hydrological impacts of climate change in Central Asia: a glance at selected river catchments | |
| 15:00 – 15:30 Q&A | |
| 15:30 – 15:50 | Coffee-break |
| 15:50 – 17:50 | Session 3. Climate services |
| Developing and scaling climate services requires overcoming a series of challenges related to understanding of climate risks across environmental and socio-economic gradients, generating and translating climate and weather data into actionable information to support improved management practices, and timely delivery of relevant, demand driven information to businesses and service providers for energy and water. The panel discussion would feature a representative from each country familiar with the range of climate products and services currently available in their respective countries. In advance of the panel discussion, the panel will be provided by three topics relate to current and planned products and services and understanding of the demand for climate products and services in their countries. | |
| Moderator: Dr. Mukhammad Durikov, Institute of Deserts, Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection | |
| Speakers: | |
| 15.50 – 16.05 Ms. Anahit Hovsepyan, WMO: Climate Services Information System in support of decision making | |
| 16.05 – 16.20 Dr. Steven Prager, CIAT: Demand for Climate Services – Understanding the information value chain | |
| 16.20 – 16.35 Dr. Ljubov Joanna Liman, Finnish Meteorological Institute: Targeted upgrading of climate-related monitoring systems of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan | |
| 16.35 – 17.35 Key speeches of the NHMS – Panel Discussion | |
| - Republic of Kazakhstan-Ms. Svetlana Dolgikh, RSE" Kazhydromet "of the Ministry of Energy | |
| - Republic of Tajikistan- Mr. Karimjon Abdualimov, Deputy Director, Agency of Hydrometeorology | |
| - Turkmenistan- Dr. Jumamurat Saparmuradov, Head of the Environment and Hydrometeorology Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection | |
| - Republic of Uzbekistan- Ms. Nadezhda Gavrilenko, Center of hydrometeorology Services, Uzhydromet | |
| 17.35 – 17.50 Q&A | |
| 17:50 – 18:00 | Wrap-up and closure of the Day 1 |
| Moderator and speaker: Ms. Irina Bekmirzaeva, CAMP4ASB/CAREC | |
| 19:00 – 21:00 | Dinner on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan as per personal invitations |
| Day 2 (Thursday): 4 April 2019 | |
| 08:00 – 09:00 | Registration for Parallel Session |
| 09:00 – 11:00 | Session 4. Climate technologies and practices |
| The Central Asian countries are endowed with diverse agro-climatic zones and natural resources. The multiple pilot projects on introducing climate-smart approaches towards management of natural resources have been carried out up to date, with the help of number of international and regional networks and institutions. While the knowledge base on these practices should be further enlarged, there is a need for up-scaling integrated natural resource management and climate smart practices in the region. The session aims to initiate a dialogue among practitioners and policy-makers in Central Asian region through informing them on multiple benefits of holistic approaches towards natural resources management. | |
| Moderator: Dr. Bakhriddin Nishonov, First Deputy General Director, Center of hydrometeorology Services, Uzhydromet | |
| Speakers: | |
| 09:00 – 09:15 Mr. Selvaraju Ramasamy, FAO, Keynote Speech: Climate technologies and practices: Advances, opportunities and challenges for up-scaling | |
| 09:15 – 09:30 Dr. Ram Sharma, CGIAR Regional Program for Central Asia and the Caucasus: Collaborative work of ICARDA on climate-resilient technologies for improved land and water productivity in Central Asia | |
| 09:30 – 09:45 Mr. Solijon Mirzoev, on behalf of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan: Popular climate-resilient technologies and practices at the community-based level in Tajikistan (CAMP4ASB example) | |
| 09:45 – 10:00 Mr. Gairat Ganiev, Deputy General Director of the Agency for the Implementation of Projects in the field of the Agro-Industrial Complex and Food Supply of the Republic of Uzbekistan: The project “Program for adaptation to climate change and its mitigation for the Aral Sea Basin” funded by International Development Association (World Bank) | |
| 10:00 – 10:15 Ms. Paola Agostini, the World Bank Group: Restoring Landscapes: from Wastelands to Vital Lands | |
| 10:15 – 10:30 Mr. Julian Schlubach, GIZ: Ecosystem based adaptation – concept and challenges along the Amu Darya river basin | |
| 10:30– 10:40 Mr. Hideki Mori, World Bank: The World Bank and climate financing in Uzbekistan | |
| 10:40 – 11:00 Q&A | |
| 11:00 –11:20 | Coffee-break |
| 11:20 – 13:30 | Session 5. Climate finance |
| The global climate finance architecture has increased over the past decade both in size and complexity, with financing being offered through multiple multilateral funds, bilateral channels and private capital markets. This session aims to cover on prerequisites for accessing climate finance from international funds, to exchange experiences on implementation of financing programs in countries of Central Asia and beyond, and to capture on emerging financial instruments and tools available for farmers and entrepreneurs. The panel discussion would feature a representative from Central Asian country familiar to highlight about climate investments, which had been channeled to their countries over the past year and needs in further resource mobilization. | |
| Moderator: Dr. Iskandar Abdullaev, Executive Director, CAREC | |
| Speakers: | |
| 11:20-11:35 Ms. Virginie Marchal, OECD: Financing Climate Futures: Aligning infrastructure investment with climate and development goals in Central Asia | |
| 11:35 – 11:50 Mr. Glen Anderson and Ms. Lorine Giangola, USAID C5+1 Adaptation Project: Public and private sector climate financing options for Central Asia | |
| 11:50 – 12:05 Mr. Otto Simonett, Zoi Environment Network: Scaling-up climate investments in Central Asia | |
| 12:05 – 12:20 Mr. Olivier Langrand, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund: Biodiversity and climate finance in the Mountains of Central Asia | |
| 12:20 – 13.10 Key speeches of the national delegations – Panel Discussion | |
| - Republic of Kazakhstan-Ms. Svetlana Dolgikh, Kazhydromet | |
| - Republic of Tajikistan- Mr. Karimjon Abdualimov, Deputy Director, Agency of Hydrometeorology | |
| - Turkmenistan-Ms. Amangul Overzberdyeva, UNDP Turkmenistan (rus) | |
| - Republic of Uzbekistan- Ms. Natalya Agaltseva, Deputy Head of the Environmental Monitoring Center of Hydrometeorological Service under the Ministry of Emergency situations of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Uzhydromet) (rus) | |
| 13:10 – 13.30 Q&A | |
| 13:30 – 14:30 | Lunch (on site) |
| 14:30 – 16:15 | Parallel Sessions |
| During the proposed session, five parallel sessions will be conducted. They aim to add value on to the topics of the plenary sessions. Upon the completion of the parallel sessions, moderators will provide summaries with key messages to the Conference Secretariat, to be further integrated to the Call for Actions. | |
| PS 1: Knowledge platforms and communication on climate change (CAREC, ICARDA) Ballroom | |
| This session showcases possible modes of information sharing between different stakeholders in climate research and planning, discusses needs for mobilizing scattered knowledge sources and outreaching all users, demonstrates effective ways of ‘translating’ the information into effective messages and presents ongoing relevant initiatives in Central Asia and beyond. | |
| PS 2: Integrated natural resources management approaches in Central Asia (regional programs of FAO and GIZ) | |
| The main objective of the event is to introduce a conceptual framework for an integrative natural resources’ management approaches (ILUMA program of GIZ and CACILM-2 program of FAO) that can be applied in Central Asia. This conceptual framework is based on more than 10 years of practical, on-the-ground experience in all five Central Asian countries. | |
| PS 3: Science and evidence-based water and land management solutions for strengthening climate resilience in Central Asia (IWMI, ICARDA, TIIAME, CAREC) | |
| The main objective of the parallel session is to bring together a wide range of experts in the field of land and water to discuss pressing climate change issues in Central Asia and present science- and evidence-based water and land management solutions to address them. | |
| PS 4: Regional environment protection for sustainable development in the context of climate change (ICSD, GIZ) | |
| The main objective of the PS4 is to discuss the development of the regional environmental program for sustainable development of Central Asia (REP4SD) with the focus on climate change adaptation, which is considered one of the main thematic directions of the program, as well as to elaborate next steps towards the implementation of the REP4SD and determine a scope of tasks for the working group. | |
| PS 5: The role of civil society and private sector in activating climate actions in Central Asia (CAREC, CAN EECA, ACTED/Convergence) | |
| The main objective of the PS 5 is to bring civil society organizations and private sector representatives together and to share experience on climate resilient initiatives they have been undertaking in the region as well as to discuss joint collaborative measures to enforce climate actions in the countries of Central Asia. | |
| 16:15 – 16:30 | Coffee-break |
| 16:30 – 18:00 | Session 6. Wrap-up, outcome and the next steps |
| The session aims to reflect key take away messages of (i) plenary sessions and side-event discussions, and to highlight (ii) recommendations of the Call for Actions and navigate the participants to the next CACCC-2020. The closing session also envisages a sofa talk format for the international organizations and agencies, to speak about new projects or initiatives, which would drive the climate agenda in Central Asia. Targeted questions will be prepared and circulated in advance. | |
| Moderator: Ms. Gayane Minasyan, the World Bank | |
| 16:30 – 17:00 Key messages from side-events | |
| 17:00 – 17:15 Recommendations of the Call for Actions | |
| 17:15 – 17:45 Driving climate agenda in the next few years (international organizations about new and emerging regional climate initiatives) | |
| 17:45 – 18:00 Concluding remarks: Mr. Benoît Bosquet on behalf of the World Bank, Dr. Iskandar Abdullaev on behalf of CAREC and GoUz (TBD) | |
| 18:00 – 18:30 | Press-briefing on key findings of the CACCC-2019 for mass media |
| 19:00 – 21:00 | Dinner on behalf of the World Bank and CAREC as per personal invitations |