PremiumADB supports Central Asia’s climate agenda with new CAREC Climate Fund

Central Asia Materials 9 November 2024 01:10 (UTC +04:00)
ADB supports Central Asia’s climate agenda with new CAREC Climate Fund
Madina Usmanova
Madina Usmanova
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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 9. Member countries of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program have launched the CAREC Climate and Sustainability Project Preparatory Fund (CSPPF) to strengthen regional collaboration on climate resilience, low-carbon growth, and sustainable development, the Asian Development Bank told Trend.

The Central Asian countries also endorsed a new Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP).

The CAREC CCAP, set for implementation from 2025 through 2027, outlines strategic initiatives aligned with the CAREC Climate Change Vision. These initiatives aim to bolster the region's capacity to respond to climate risks, strengthen the water-energy-food nexus, reduce carbon emissions through low-carbon growth strategies, and expand renewable energy usage. The plan also envisions establishing a dedicated CAREC climate platform to facilitate ongoing regional climate coordination.

The newly established CSPPF will help member countries develop viable regional climate projects in line with the Paris Agreement. During the conference, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed contribution agreements with China’s Ministry of Finance and South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, securing an initial $5 million for the fund. This funding will be used to prepare bankable projects that address climate challenges across CAREC member nations.

“By working together, we can build resilient infrastructure, develop early warning systems, and create a greener future powered by renewable energy,” ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa noted, underscoring the CAREC Program’s role in promoting sustainable development.

Ministers at the conference also reviewed and approved the Midterm Review of the CAREC 2030 Strategy, which recommends a renewed focus on climate-smart development and regional public goods, reflecting the region's growing commitment to sustainable economic progress.

The representative of Tajikistan, Assistant to the President on Economic Affairs and CAREC National Focal Point Nematullo Khikmatullozoda, along with Minister of Energy and Water Resources Daler Juma and Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade Farhod Vosidiyon, also took part in the event, signaling Tajikistan’s active role in shaping CAREC’s climate agenda.

The ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

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