BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 13. Turkmenistan and
the United Nations discussed joint efforts to promote environmental
sustainability and preserve the Caspian Sea.
This was reflected in a press release issued by the Turkmen MFA
following a meeting between Minister Rashid Meredov and UN Resident
Coordinator in Turkmenistan Xiaojun Grace Wang.
“The interlocutors discussed priority areas of cooperation
between Turkmenistan and the United Nations, as well as issues
related to further coordination and practical cooperation,” the
ministry said.
Particular attention was paid to upcoming joint events and the
promotion of Turkmenistan's international initiatives within the UN
framework.
Turkmenistan and the UN have been working on environmental
issues through the UN’s broader sustainable development framework,
with climate change, water management, land degradation and
ecosystem protection among the areas of cooperation. The Caspian
Sea is particularly important because environmental pressures in
the region affect biodiversity, coastal ecosystems and the
sustainable use of natural resources. For Turkmenistan, cooperation
with UN agencies provides a framework for coordinating
environmental initiatives with the other Caspian littoral
states.
The Caspian agenda is also connected to Turkmenistan’s wider
climate and environmental priorities. The country has worked with
UN institutions on climate adaptation, sustainable land management,
biodiversity protection and more efficient use of water resources.
These areas are increasingly interconnected: changes in water
availability and climate conditions can affect agriculture,
ecosystems and infrastructure, while measures to improve resource
efficiency can support both environmental protection and economic
development.
Within the Caspian framework, international cooperation focuses
on scientific research, environmental monitoring, data exchange and
coordinated measures among the five littoral states. Turkmenistan
has also promoted the idea of strengthening international attention
to the Caspian’s environmental challenges, including through a
proposed special environmental summit. This places cooperation with
the UN alongside Turkmenistan’s broader efforts to keep the Caspian
issue on the international agenda.
