17 March 2021. 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) in Ashgabat.
The event was one of the its kind in Ashgabat on the run up to the COP26 conference, which will take place in Glasgow, UK in November 2021. Looking forward to the high-level conference in Glasgow, this roundtable with local and international climate change experts provided a good platform to discuss the global significance of COP26 and gave an opportunity to highlight the international expertise and initiatives, existing areas of technical support and new green/climate finance opportunities available to Turkmenistan.
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 at expert level also helped to demonstrate Turkmenistan’s efforts to tackle climate change and commitment to fulfil its obligations under global climate agreements showing current work that is taking place in the country as well as future plans.
The MFA moderated the roundtable and it was attended by representatives of, relevant ministries and departments of Turkmenistan, UK Government, foreign diplomatic missions, international organisations, research institutions, development partners and donors.
At the roundtable, 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.
She also described what more ambitious and enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) mean and why it is important to come forward with enhancing and raising ambition in NDCs ahead of COP26.
Following the COP26 Regional Ambassador’s remarks, speeches from:
- former UK Minister of Energy & Climate Change and Former Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Turkmenistan
- Head of the Department of International Environmental Cooperation and Projects of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan
- UNDP Project Manager, Group Manager for the preparation of Turkmenistan’s Fourth National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
- Country Heads of Multinational Development Banks such as ADB and EBRD
- Heads of Departments of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and International Energy Agency (IEA)
- renowned Oxford University and Turkmen State Institute of Electrical Energy professors
- Shell International Ltd.’s Chief Climate Change Adviser
- experts from the UN’s Environment Programme (UNEP), NDC Partnership and Overseas Development Institute (ODI) gave special impetus to the event
As a result of the productive discussions, joint priorities of the Turkmen colleagues with international partners and donors were identified to activate new forms of cooperation to jointly combat climate change, taking into account the coincidence of priorities in the main areas of work.
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.
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