BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 7. Turkmenistan has
important opportunities to strengthen the scientific and data
foundation for sustainable management of the Caspian Sea.
UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan Xiaojun Grace Wang said
this in an exclusive interview with Trend, responding to a question about the most
critical data gaps concerning the Caspian Sea and areas where
Turkmenistan can strengthen the evidence base for policy and
investment decisions.
"Reliable and comparable data remains one of the most important
foundations for effective decision-making on the future of the
Caspian Sea. From the UN's perspective, some of the most critical
data gaps relate to water levels, river inflows and evaporation,
biodiversity, pollution sources and loads, and the impacts of
climate change. Equally important is the availability of
socioeconomic data that helps us understand how environmental
changes affect livelihoods, resilience and the well-being of
communities across the region," she said.
Wang noted that understanding the social implications of
pressures from environmental and climate factors is also important
for ensuring that policy and investment decisions take into account
the varying impacts on different communities.
"This includes understanding how environmental and
climate-related pressures affect different population groups,
including women and men, so that policy and investment decisions
are informed by a comprehensive picture of both environmental and
social impacts," Wang said.
According to her, Turkmenistan can strengthen environmental and
water-level monitoring, scientific cooperation, knowledge exchange
and the use of research in policy, programming and investment
decisions.
"For Turkmenistan, there are important opportunities to
strengthen environmental and water-level monitoring, scientific
cooperation and knowledge exchange, while ensuring that research
findings are systematically translated into policy, programming and
investment decisions. Earth observation systems, remote sensing and
AI-enabled monitoring can also support the design and management of
nature-based solutions and ecosystem restoration efforts," she
said.
Wang emphasized that an important challenge is ensuring that
information generated through monitoring and research is ultimately
translated into practical decisions and action.
"The central challenge is to ensure that evidence travels the
full distance from monitoring and research to policy, investment
and action. Stronger collaboration among scientific institutions,
policymakers, development partners, the private sector and local
communities can help bridge the gap between science and practice.
At the same time, more inclusive and disaggregated data can help
ensure that responses to environmental challenges are effective,
equitable and responsive to the needs of different communities,"
she added.
Meanwhile, the United Nations in Turkmenistan serves as a
development partner, endorsing national priorities aligned with the
Sustainable Development Goals through the UN Sustainable
Development Cooperation Framework (2021-2025/2026-2030). The
Country Team, led by the UN Resident Coordinator, collaborates with
the government on health, education, economic, and social reforms.
Key focuses include people-centered governance, inclusive economic
growth, and quality services. Major UN agencies involved are UNDP,
WHO, UNICEF, and UNODC.
Additionally, the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy
for Central Asia addresses regional security. Key projects
encompass legal aid strengthening, violence protection for women
and children, trade improvement, water resource management, and
pandemic preparedness, supported by significant government
financial contributions.
Water and environmental sustainability are also an important
part of the UN’s cooperation with Turkmenistan. The UN supports the
country in areas including water security, climate resilience,
ecosystem management and environmental monitoring, while its
current 2026-2030 Cooperation Framework identifies environment and
climate change mitigation and adaptation as one of three strategic
priorities.
