Today, on September 16, the National Youth Conference on Climate Change was held at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. The event, held on the eve of the 29th session of the Conference of Youth on Climate Change (COY19) and the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, brought together young activists, diplomats and representatives of international organizations in Ashgabat to discuss important issues of climate policy and sustainable development.
The opening of the conference began with a ceremonial welcome, in which high-profile guests spoke, including Azat Atayev, Deputy Minister of Education of Turkmenistan, and ambassadors of Azerbaijan - Gismet Gezalov, Great Britain - Stephen Conlon, the UAE - Ahmed Al Hameli, as well as the UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan Dmitry Shlapachenko. The welcoming speech was also given by Karolina Milow, Director of the European Union for Green Development of Turkmenistan: Political Dialogue and Climate Action for 2024–2028, and Gulshat Yusupova, Rector of the Institute of International Relations.
The conference working groups focused on various aspects of combating climate change: international legal instruments and the role of youth in global climate processes; the use of IT technologies for climate monitoring and the implementation of digital solutions to reduce the carbon footprint; sustainable management of natural resources in the Turkmen Aral Sea region; practices for the efficient use of water in agriculture and adaptation to climate change.
The groups also considered strategies for informing the public about renewable energy sources and energy saving methods, measures to improve air quality and protect the ozone layer, the role of education as a catalyst for climate progress and the creation of eco-friendly cities.
The final session of the conference brought together all working groups to present the results of the discussions and discuss proposals that will be included in the Roadmap of the Youth Statement from Turkmenistan. These proposals will be taken into account at international forums and will contribute to the formation of effective strategies to combat climate change.
The conference emphasized the importance of youth participation in global climate initiatives and the active involvement of young people in developing solutions for sustainable development. In the context of increasing climate threats, such events contribute to the development of innovative approaches and strengthen international cooperation in the fight against climate change.
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