Almaty Welcomes Central Asia Climate Change Conference 2024
The Central Asia Climate Change Conference (CACCC-2024) recently took place in Almaty from May 27 to 29, focusing on important issues such as sustainable water and land management, energy, food security, and environmental sustainability in the face of climate change. The conference, which was organized by the World Bank, brought together over 400 participants to discuss progress, challenges, and gaps in implementing climate commitments, as well as topics like carbon neutrality, green transition, and security.
Experts from Central Asia also delved into collective efforts to reduce climate-related disaster risks and explored platforms for enhanced regional cooperation on climate change adaptation. Zafar Makhmudov, Executive Director of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), highlighted the need to strengthen regional cooperation and increase resilience in Central Asia, given the region’s vulnerability to the impacts of climate change due to factors like its agricultural economy, aging infrastructure, and rapid population growth.
During the conference, World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia Tatiana Proskuryakova emphasized the importance of addressing a wide range of issues simultaneously, such as implementing green policies, green financing, and investing in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and natural resource management. Caroline Milow, Programme Manager for the Green Central Asia Initiative at the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), commended Central Asia for its adoption of the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, positioning the region ahead of many others globally in climate action.
In addition to panel discussions and workshops, a training program was conducted for content makers and journalists from Central Asian countries to raise awareness about climate issues and enhance the capacity of media professionals. The conference also served as a platform for Central Asian governments to prepare for their participation in the upcoming 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, scheduled for Nov. 11-22 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
It is expected that the conference will lead to the signing of several memoranda of understanding, further solidifying commitments to addressing climate change and fostering sustainable development in Central Asia and beyond.
