Central Asian cooperation mechanisms: achievements

and challenges

Dr. Iskandar Abdullaev,

Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC)

Environmental Challenges in Central Asia

• 60 million people (90 million in 2050)- demographic pressure

• Growing economy- total GDP $600 billion+ $4-5 billion annual growth - economic pressure

• Resource intensive- high footprint development mode

• Outdated infrastructure, institutes and policies- path dependency

• Serious consequences of climate change- new challenges

Central Asia: Environmental Challenges

• Anthropogenic Pressure on Environment:– Quality and quantity– Diversity and functions

• Climate Change Impact:– Reduction of river flows– Higher water-energy demand

• Degraded Natural Biodiversity :– Reduced numbers and types– Degraded areas and resources

• Reduced Ecosystem Services:– Social and economical losses

Central Asia: Environmental Challenges

• Central Asia will be worst affected by climate change with river flow reduction of up to 25-30% by 2030

• Environmental resilience – reduced less biodiversity

Stronger institutional capacities, social resilience and economic power required

Central Asia: Regional Cooperation

• Regional Cooperation- pre-requisite for sustainable development

• Transboundary nature of natural resources, processes and infrastructure

• Past dependency and common challenges • Economic growth limitations and social

cohesion

Regional Cooperation in Central Asia• Regional Organizations: IFAS, ICSD, ICWC-

partnership Memoranda's and active cooperation• Regional Networks: research- academia, basin

organizations, environmental experts• Regional Working groups: water quality, basin

planning, SEIS, PES

• Regional processes: ASBP-3, Regional Environmental Goals, Green Business Club

• Partnerships: state, civil – society, business and international processes

Roles of Regional Organizations

Regional Organizations

Policy formulation

Information/Awareness building

Monitoring and Assessment

Project Implementation

EC IFAS + + +

ICSD + +

ICWC + + +

CAREC + + +

Regional Cooperation: achievements

• Regional Organizations: ownership, internalization, rotation of governance, professionalization

• Regional dialogue: (i) continuity, (ii) processes, (iii) platform for discussion

• Regional cooperation: (i) reduction of conflicts, short-term solutions (water allocation), regular

Regional Cooperation: Examples

• Central Asia Initiative (CAI): (i) regional environmental goals, (ii) support to civil society, (iii)

• Water Quality cooperation (UNECE+CAREC): (i) analysis of current state, (ii) regional working group, (iii) regional water quality standards

• Aral Sea programmes (ASBP-I,II,III): (i) nationally agreed regional projects, (ii) continuity, (iii) national and regional components- linked

Regional Cooperation: Challenges

• Regional Organizations: sectoral, un-coordinated, longer process of negotiations and decision making

• Regional Processes: outdated, un-linked from national priorities and global development

• Regional Cooperation: ad-hock, context based, conflictive and result less

Regional Cooperation: new efforts

• EU Strategy for Central Asia: (i) support to regional joint activities, (ii) strengthening of regional cooperation, (iii) coordination of EU regional efforts

• New Silk Road Initiative: (i) joint research and scientific cooperation, (ii)

• Berlin Process: (i) Strengthening of regional organizations, (ii) Capacity building, (iii) transboundary cooperation

• Regional Organizations: (i) Urgench conference, (ii) ICSD and ICWM meetings, (iii) Meeting of regional organizations (CAREC)

Regional Cooperation: Scenarios

• Cooperation: regional organizations, processes and cooperation will improve. Economy and Security will drive cooperation

• Consolidation: regional organizations will consolidate process and cooperation modes

• Disintegration: reduced cooperation, no or few regional processes

SDG’s: Central Asia• Central Asia’s representation in setting post-2015

(SDGs) could be improved through regional institutions

• SDG’s implementation is interest for Central Asian states: (i) for prosperity, (ii) security and (iii) sustainability

• SDG’s successful implementation requires system of monitoring: (i) indicators, (ii) information management and (iii) exchange

Regional Cooperation: SDG’s Accountability Mechanisms

• Regional level:– facilitate exchange of best practices and lessons learned – identify solutions to shared challenges and transboundary issues– inputs can serve to prepare reviews at the global level. – translate global goals into policies, guidelines, recommendations

and standards at the national level, – mobilize partnerships at the regional level– build ownership and understanding for the universal nature of the

SDG in the region

• Promotion of Set of indicators: Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS)

• Using Advanced Reporting Approaches and Tools: Annual State of Environmental Reporting (SoE)

• Improving Public Access to the Information: Aarhus Centers and access to the information

Regional Cooperation: SDG’s Accountability Mechanisms

Regional Cooperation: SDG’s Accountability Mechanisms

• Methodological support:– data and reporting requirements for SDG’s

– Application and use of SEIS for SoE Reports

• Advice and capacity building for regional networks:– Instruments and capacity building

– Access to knowledge and know-how