On September 16, 2024, the Government of Turkmenistan, in cooperation with the Office of the UN Permanent Coordinator, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Embassies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates in Turkmenistan and with the support of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), held the final National Youth Conference on Climate Change.
The event was held at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and brought together young participants from all over the region to discuss current environmental issues and explore opportunities for youth participation in climate actions.
The conference was attended by distinguished guests: Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan Gismet Fuzuli oglu Gezalov, British Ambassador Stephen Conlon, UAE Ambassador Ahmed Al Hameli, UN Permanent Coordinator in Turkmenistan Dmitry Shlapachenko, Director of the EU for Green Turkmenistan program Karolina Milov, as well as young SDG ambassadors, eco-activists, as well as representatives of UNDP, UNICEF, FAO, the European Union, GIZ and specialists from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Education and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan.
The Youth Conference on Climate Change, attended by more than 700 young people from all over Turkmenistan, was held on the eve of the 19th Youth Conference (COY19) and the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The purpose of the conference was to raise awareness of the younger generation about climate change, its impact on socio-economic development, environmental sustainability and biodiversity, as well as to develop common approaches to the implementation of innovative solutions that contribute to adaptation to climate change and mitigation of its consequences.
This year, the conference also covered the regions of Turkmenistan. Thus, regional meetings were held in the cities of Dashoguz, Balkanabat, Mary, Turkmenabat and etrape Bezmein of Ashgabat. Young SDG ambassadors and eco-activists met with young people, facilitating the exchange of ideas and providing an opportunity for the most active participants to demonstrate their projects at the final conference.
After the opening ceremony, where the honorary guests of the Conference addressed welcoming words, the work of the first session began, at which representatives of the Ozone Center made a presentation dedicated to the International Day for the Conservation of the Ozone Layer. Then the youth representatives presented the results of the conferences held in the velayats.
During the second session, the participants were divided into working groups, each of which discussed various aspects of environmental challenges and possible solutions.
Experts and coordinators led the discussions by outlining the objectives and expected outcomes of each session. Following the discussions, each group prepared its proposals for inclusion in the preliminary version of the Youth Statement of Turkmenistan.
At the final session, the leaders of each working group presented their proposals, which were included in the preliminary version of the Youth Roadmap for Climate Action. These proposals will be included in the final version of the Youth Statement of Turkmenistan, which will be presented at COY19 and then at COP29.
The Conference served as an important platform for empowering the youth of Turkmenistan to participate in processes aimed at solving environmental challenges. The final Youth Climate Statement will reflect the collective vision of the Turkmen youth and contribute to the implementation of the UNFCCC missions.
