Ecological initiatives of Turkmenistan on the agenda of RIO+20
The capital of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro will host the Global Summit on climate change - Rio +20. The delegation of Turkmenistan led by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov will take part in the forum and put forward a number of important initiatives to address the global environmental problems.
As is known, harmonization of society and environment is the main goal of the environmental policy of Turkmenistan, which prioritizes nature protection, careful use of natural resources, and protection of biological diversity. Implementation of the national nature conservation strategy is based on a broad international cooperation on the basis of multilateral conventions and agreements, joint programs and projects carried out in close cooperation with the UN, European Union, the Global Environment Fund, the World Wildlife Fund and other leading international organizations.
A number of initiatives on opening of the UN Interregional center on climate change in Ashgabat, on saving the Aral Sea, preserving the ecological wellbeing of the Caspian Sea, efficient using of water resources in the region and applying new "green" technologies in the energy sector put forward by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov vividly reflect Turkmenistan’s position in these issues.
“Turkmenistan's approach to contemporary problems is based on confidence in the ability of the international community to find right solutions, overcome stereotypes, free itself from the burden of inertial thinking and attain a new view on perspectives of global interaction. We call this a Strategy of the Future, implying achievement of a wide and stable international consensus in the key development issues, namely political, socioeconomic, energy and ecology,” underlined President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov speaking at the 65th session of the UN General Assembly in New York in September, 2010.
According to the Turkmen leader the pivotal component of achieving the Millennium Development Goals declared by the UN in the region is solving serious ecological problems - first of all, rehabilitating unique natural resources of the Caspian Sea.
A year later, during the 66th session of UN General Assembly, the Turkmen leader once again emphasized the necessity to attach specific content to the international efforts on preserving the natural resources of the Caspian Sea. In this regard, it was suggested to organize the Caspian Environment Forum (KEF) as a permanent platform to consider the environmental issues in the Caspian Basin and develop the relevant proposals and recommendations.
Particular attention Turkmenistan pays to creation of a reliable system for protection of the Caspian Sea, is caused, first of all, by the special status of the Caspian Sea - the largest internal water reservoir of the plane isolated from the world ocean, a pearl of nature with the extremely diverse flora and fauna. Many species of the local flora and fauna - for example, the Caspian seal - are endemic, and make an invaluable gene pool of the biological diversity of the region.
The National Action Plan on the Caspian Sea for Turkmenistan developed on the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov vividly testifies to the adherence of our country to ecologically safety and sustainable development. This document clearly defines the main goals and specific measures aimed at preventing the environmental pollution by industrial facilities, preserving the biodiversity of the Caspian Sea, managing and rehabilitating its biological resources, strengthening the legal framework on natural resource management and planning the coastal zone development, protecting natural monuments, improving the social and economic conditions and increasing the level of environmental education among population.
The advanced technologies are applied today in all branches of the national economy, the measures are taken to improve the efficiency of control over the purity of the atmosphere, compliance to environmental standards and requirements of plants, factories and other facilities that are required to undergo the appropriate examination for their environmental security.
At present the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea and coast are considered to be the ecologically cleanest due to the systematic and purposeful works carried out in this area. That is vividly illustrated by the large-scale project on creation of the Avaza National tourist zone on the Caspian coast initiated by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with the aim to use the recreational potential of the region turning it into “a resort pearl”, a major international tourist center. One of its main demands to the project is strictly compliance with the environment safety requirements.
As was noted, Turkmenistan stands for wide international cooperation to address the transboundary environmental problems. The Caspian Environment Programme (CEP) established in 1998 united the efforts of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan, as well as authoritative international partner organizations, including the Global Environment Fund (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Bank.
A number of efficient projects aimed at preserving the unique ecosystem of the Caspian Sea were implemented within the framework of the Caspian Environment Programme (CEP).
An important CEP achievement was the Framework Convention on Protecting the Environment of the Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention), ratified by the governments of all five littoral states that entered into force on August 12, 2006. The project “The Caspian Sea: Restoring Depleted Fisheries and Consolidation of a Permanent Regional Environmental Governance Framework” –CASPECO is aimed at practical implementation of this document.
A significant breakthrough in development of regional partnership was made during the third Summit of the heads of Caspian states in Baku, Azerbaijan in November, 2010, where President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on environmental issues. In particular, the Turkmen leader justified the necessity to launch the process of drafting a package of new five-sided intergovernmental agreements regulating the various activities in the Caspian Sea.
Setting forth the position of Turkmenistan on laying the pipelines under the Caspian Sea, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov underlined the necessity to strictly follow the international environmental standards while constructing and operating sea transport communications.
There is no doubt that the new initiatives of Turkmenistan to be put forward at the Global Summit on climate change - Rio+20 will offer a powerful impetus to discussions and follow-up implementation of a number of important joint projects aimed at achieving the noble Millennium Goals in the name of welfare and prosperity all over the world.
The capital of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro will host the Global Summit on climate change - Rio +20. The delegation of Turkmenistan led by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov will take part in the forum and put forward a number of important initiatives to address the global environmental problems.
As is known, harmonization of society and environment is the main goal of the environmental policy of Turkmenistan, which prioritizes nature protection, careful use of natural resources, and protection of biological diversity. Implementation of the national nature conservation strategy is based on a broad international cooperation on the basis of multilateral conventions and agreements, joint programs and projects carried out in close cooperation with the UN, European Union, the Global Environment Fund, the World Wildlife Fund and other leading international organizations.
A number of initiatives on opening of the UN Interregional center on climate change in Ashgabat, on saving the Aral Sea, preserving the ecological wellbeing of the Caspian Sea, efficient using of water resources in the region and applying new "green" technologies in the energy sector put forward by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov vividly reflect Turkmenistan’s position in these issues.
“Turkmenistan's approach to contemporary problems is based on confidence in the ability of the international community to find right solutions, overcome stereotypes, free itself from the burden of inertial thinking and attain a new view on perspectives of global interaction. We call this a Strategy of the Future, implying achievement of a wide and stable international consensus in the key development issues, namely political, socioeconomic, energy and ecology,” underlined President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov speaking at the 65th session of the UN General Assembly in New York in September, 2010.
According to the Turkmen leader the pivotal component of achieving the Millennium Development Goals declared by the UN in the region is solving serious ecological problems - first of all, rehabilitating unique natural resources of the Caspian Sea.
A year later, during the 66th session of UN General Assembly, the Turkmen leader once again emphasized the necessity to attach specific content to the international efforts on preserving the natural resources of the Caspian Sea. In this regard, it was suggested to organize the Caspian Environment Forum (KEF) as a permanent platform to consider the environmental issues in the Caspian Basin and develop the relevant proposals and recommendations.
Particular attention Turkmenistan pays to creation of a reliable system for protection of the Caspian Sea, is caused, first of all, by the special status of the Caspian Sea - the largest internal water reservoir of the plane isolated from the world ocean, a pearl of nature with the extremely diverse flora and fauna. Many species of the local flora and fauna - for example, the Caspian seal - are endemic, and make an invaluable gene pool of the biological diversity of the region.
The National Action Plan on the Caspian Sea for Turkmenistan developed on the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov vividly testifies to the adherence of our country to ecologically safety and sustainable development. This document clearly defines the main goals and specific measures aimed at preventing the environmental pollution by industrial facilities, preserving the biodiversity of the Caspian Sea, managing and rehabilitating its biological resources, strengthening the legal framework on natural resource management and planning the coastal zone development, protecting natural monuments, improving the social and economic conditions and increasing the level of environmental education among population.
The advanced technologies are applied today in all branches of the national economy, the measures are taken to improve the efficiency of control over the purity of the atmosphere, compliance to environmental standards and requirements of plants, factories and other facilities that are required to undergo the appropriate examination for their environmental security.
At present the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea and coast are considered to be the ecologically cleanest due to the systematic and purposeful works carried out in this area. That is vividly illustrated by the large-scale project on creation of the Avaza National tourist zone on the Caspian coast initiated by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with the aim to use the recreational potential of the region turning it into “a resort pearl”, a major international tourist center. One of its main demands to the project is strictly compliance with the environment safety requirements.
As was noted, Turkmenistan stands for wide international cooperation to address the transboundary environmental problems. The Caspian Environment Programme (CEP) established in 1998 united the efforts of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan, as well as authoritative international partner organizations, including the Global Environment Fund (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Bank.
A number of efficient projects aimed at preserving the unique ecosystem of the Caspian Sea were implemented within the framework of the Caspian Environment Programme (CEP).
An important CEP achievement was the Framework Convention on Protecting the Environment of the Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention), ratified by the governments of all five littoral states that entered into force on August 12, 2006. The project “The Caspian Sea: Restoring Depleted Fisheries and Consolidation of a Permanent Regional Environmental Governance Framework” –CASPECO is aimed at practical implementation of this document.
A significant breakthrough in development of regional partnership was made during the third Summit of the heads of Caspian states in Baku, Azerbaijan in November, 2010, where President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on environmental issues. In particular, the Turkmen leader justified the necessity to launch the process of drafting a package of new five-sided intergovernmental agreements regulating the various activities in the Caspian Sea.
Setting forth the position of Turkmenistan on laying the pipelines under the Caspian Sea, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov underlined the necessity to strictly follow the international environmental standards while constructing and operating sea transport communications.
There is no doubt that the new initiatives of Turkmenistan to be put forward at the Global Summit on climate change - Rio+20 will offer a powerful impetus to discussions and follow-up implementation of a number of important joint projects aimed at achieving the noble Millennium Goals in the name of welfare and prosperity all over the world.