On June 5, the world celebrates Environment Day. This day, established by the UN General Assembly in 1972, pays special attention to the importance of developing international eco-collaboration. Environment Day 2020 is unique in that this year the UN celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Protecting the environment and helping to maintain ecological balance are key goals of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), established in 1965. In Turkmenistan, the Development Program has supported the implementation of state environmental policies for many years, working with a wide range of stakeholders, from ministries to private firms and entrepreneurs.
UNDP Turkmenistan implements a number of joint eco-projects with other international organizations, including: The Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Central Asian Regional Eco-Center (CAREC), the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS).
The promotion of programs on climate change is one of the main vectors of UNDP activities in Turkmenistan. Thanks to active support of the organization, the National Strategy on Climate Change of Turkmenistan (NSCT) was developed in 2012, which was adopted in a new version in September last year. The implementation of the Strategy will ensure sustainable development of the country by improving energy efficiency, developing renewable energy sources (RES) and solving other tasks necessary for the transition to a green economy.
UNDP is making a significant contribution to improving Turkmenistan's eco-monitoring system; in particular, the organization supported the purchase of air pollution control equipment in Ashgabat and in velayat centers. Work is also being done to assess the energy efficiency of individual hotels in order to prepare energy-saving recommendations for residential buildings. UNDP also pays much attention to waste management issues.
Thanks to UNDP activities in Dashoguz and Lebap velayats on pilot plots with a total area of over 12,000 ha and over 105,000 ha of natural pastures, it was possible to improve the efficiency of agricultural land management by improving their reclamation condition.
As part of the promotion of the rational use of water resources in Turkmenistan, a special project is being implemented with the support of UNDP, which includes, among other things:
- Five pumping stations were reconstructed with the installation of modern pumps that consume 2.5 times less energy;
- A 15-kilometer gravity-flowing waterway was constructed in the Kaahka etrap;
- installed solar power systems with a combined capacity of 10 kW in remote settlements in the Karakum Desert.
UNDP stands ready to continue to be a partner of Turkmenistan in environmental initiatives, to help protect the environment and develop the country as a whole.
Source: tm.undp.org
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