On 16 August 2024, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov met with Ms. Inger Andersen, UN Under-Secretary-General, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in the format of a videoconference.
The parties reiterated the importance of consolidating efforts at the international, regional and national levels to resolve global environmental problems.
During the meeting, the interlocutors discussed a number of key issues related to Turkmenistan’s initiatives in the field of environmental protection, in particular, the establishment of the Regional Centre for Climate Change Technologies for Central Asia, with headquarters in Ashgabat.
The parties also exchanged views on the practical implementation of the Global Methane Pledge that Turkmenistan joined during the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-28). It was noted that work has begun on a joint project with the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) to develop a mechanism for regular delivery of updated data on emissions detected by the MARS system.
The interlocutors also touched upon the issues of Caspian Sea. They looked at the possibilities of expanding cooperation between Turkmenistan and UNEP on the development of the “Caspian Environmental Initiative”, the development of which was proposed by the President of Turkmenistan during the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.
At the end of the meeting, Ms. Inger Andersen expressed gratitude to the Turkmen side for the invitation to participate in the Regional Conference on Food Security in the Context of Climate Change, scheduled to be held by Turkmenistan in November this year together with international organizations.
