The Second Central Asia Knowledge Forum promotes action on climate change
ALMATY, May 13, 2014 – The Second Central Asia Climate Knowledge Forum will take place on May 13-15 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, organized by the World Bank Group. Over 150 policy makers and practitioners from governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as regional learning institutions, universities and civil society groups, media, development partner representatives, and World Bank staff will attend the forum.
The annual event will continue to promote knowledge sharing and dialogue among Central Asian stakeholders on cooperative solutions for resilience at national and regional levels, including the concept for a proposed regional program for climate resilience.
A changing climate poses an undisputable challenge to developing economies in Central Asia. Its impact will vary within the region, but no country will escape unscathed. The next few decades offer a window of opportunity for these countries to integrate climate change into core development planning – demonstrating a positive way forward through inclusive, greener and climate-resilient solutions. As climate change knows no geographical boundaries, collaboration among these countries will potentially enhance resilience.
“The World Bank in partnership with the Central Asian governments, development and civil society partners is organizing this forum for the second consecutive year,” said Saroj Kumar Jha, the World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia. “Climate change is a fundamental threat to development, and we will double our efforts to look at everything we do through a climate lens. Jointly with all our partners we will focus on solutions that help countries grow clean and resilient, develop climate smart agriculture practices, and find innovative ways to improve energy efficiency. We look forward and stand ready to support the action oriented collaboration in the region. We also hope that our government counterparts in Central Asia will scale up their level of ambition to make real progress on climate action.”
The inaugural Climate Knowledge Forum, held last June in Almaty, showcased national responses to climate change that were being prepared in each Central Asian country. It also highlighted that bilateral and multilateral partners are active in the region. The event concluded with a demand for greater collaboration for effective and scaled-up action on climate risks since they extend across borders.
The second forum will span across three days with the first two days consisting of technical discussions focusing on both regional and international experiences in climate-smart development, integrated water resource management, and disaster-risk management. The third day will consist of a high-level discussion on the potential Climate Resilience Program that proposes a concerted, systematic and integrated landscape approach at the national as well as regional levels. Such an approach would help improve the effectiveness of the response in each country by maximizing synergies across sectors and countries.
Climate Resilience Program concept is being prepared by the Technical Working Group (TWG), consisting of experts, nominated by governments from all the countries in the region. The concept will be discussed among TWG and other Central Asia national stakeholders during a ‘pre-forum’ day.
In addition, a ‘post-forum’ day focusing on technical training in various tools and knowledge products developed to address and incorporate climate change into policy and planning will be provided for interested participants.
For more information please visit the Second CA Climate Knowledge Forum page and Overviews of Country Climate Profiles please visit (both available in English and Russian):
