High-level meeting of the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Ministers of Environmental Protection of the Central Asian countries

On March 4, 2024, a high-level meeting between the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Helga Maria Schmid and the ministers of environmental protection of the Central Asian countries took place in Ashgabat.

At the meeting, issues of developing regional cooperation to combat climate change and strengthening regional security in Central Asia were discussed.

The Kazakhstan delegation was led by the Vice-Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nurken Sharbiyev, who made a detailed report on the measures taken in Kazakhstan aimed at adapting to climate change, the initiatives of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the global water crisis and the transition to carbon neutrality.

Presentations were also made by OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, Minister of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan Charygeldy Babaniyazov, Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic Melis Turgunbayev, Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan Bakhodur Sheralizoda, Minister of Ecology and Environmental Protection and climate change in the Republic of Uzbekistan Aziz Abdukhakimov.

It should be noted that the advantages of a regional Central Asian approach to solving climate problems were emphasized in every statement of the Central Asian countries at C0P-28 in Dubai.

The event provides an opportunity to discuss the implications of climate change for security and stability in Central Asia.

The OSCE serves as a forum for political dialogue on a wide range of security issues and a platform for joint action to improve the lives of people and their communities.