BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 6. The European
Commission urges Turkmenistan for regional cooperation to tackle
environmental challenges in Central Asia, a Commission official
told Trend.
According to the European Commission’s representative, the
Commission considers regional cooperation as the most effective way
to address environmental challenges in Central Asia. In this
regard, it is encouraging Turkmenistan to actively engage with
multilateral environmental frameworks.
“Turkmenistan is an important partner for the EU in global
Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), such as the
Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention to Combat
Desertification, and the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),” the official
said.
According to the representative, the Commission also calls for
Turkmenistan to participate actively in the United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe (UNECE) Environmental conventions, including
the Aarhus Convention and the Water Convention, and to consider
joining the Espoo Convention, the Air Convention, and the
Industrial Accidents Convention.
“Policy dialogue and capacity building continue through the
bilateral project ‘EU for a Green Turkmenistan: Policy Dialogue and
Climate Action 2024–2029’, as well as through the regional Team
Europe Initiative on Water, Energy and Climate,” – the
representative said.
“Climate change is exacerbating vulnerabilities, including those
affecting the Caspian Sea,” the official said, urging global action
and pointing to the Paris Agreement as a key tool.
“The EU remains firmly committed to achieving the goals of the
Paris Agreement, and we expect our partners, including Turkmenistan
as a signatory to the Paris Agreement, to share this commitment by
implementing ambitious policies that both reduce emissions and
strengthen resilience and adaptation to climate change,” the
representative concluded.
Earlier in February, Turkmen Ambassador to Belgium Sapar
Palvanov held talks with Deputy Director-General of the European
Commission Directorate-General for Climate Action Jan Dusik, where
the sides discussed expanding cooperation on climate and energy
issues, including within the framework of the EU’s “Green
Turkmenistan” programme and broader efforts on methane reduction
and environmental modernization.