Tbilisi, Member countries of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program, in a significant move, have pledged to jointly address climate change challenges, focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing resilience. This commitment was made at the 22nd CAREC Ministerial Conference in Tbilisi, marking the first time the conference was held in Georgia.

According to Asian Development Bank, the joint ministerial statement endorsed by ministers and high-ranking officials from Azerbaijan, the People’s Republic of China, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, aligns with the Paris Agreement. ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa expressed confidence in the shared vision to bolster the CAREC Program’s impact on climate challenges in the region. He emphasized the importance of developing climate projects, including renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, efficient water use, economic diversification, and strengthening supply chains to improve climate resilience and adaptation.

The new vision highlights the transition to renewable energy, bolstering regional electricity trade, innovative financing solutions, and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure and policies. It also calls for enhanced collaboration with development partners to support the region’s climate agenda.

A recent scoping study revealed that the CAREC region is likely to face severe climate impacts, including higher-than-average temperature rises, water scarcity, desertification, and glacial melting. Addressing these issues, CAREC plans to support member countries in enhancing expertise and capacities in transboundary water management, water productivity, and investing in efficient irrigation systems to augment agricultural productivity.

The program also aims to decarbonize transport and enhance regional connectivity through efficient transport technologies and infrastructure. Other focal areas include the development of climate-smart cities with electrified mass transit systems and promoting climate and disaster resilience through regional risk management and financing initiatives.

The CAREC Program, hosted by the ADB, is a partnership of countries and development partners dedicated to sustainable development, economic growth acceleration, and poverty reduction in Central Asia. The ADB, established in 1966 and owned by 68 members, remains committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific.