The CAREC (Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation) Program’s Climate Change Action Plan will be presented at the COP29 in Baku, Report informs referring to Kazinform.

The move has been announced at today’s 23rd CAREC Ministerial Conference in Astana, which focused on regional energy security and climate change issues.

The conference is attended by CAREC countries, development partners, and representatives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). This year’s conference is dedicated to regional energy security, climate change, and regional connectivity. Additionally, the conference agenda includes a mid-term review of the CAREC 2030 Strategy, which emphasizes the development of practical regional projects aimed at addressing climate change issues.

Yevgeniy Zhukov, director general of ADB’s Central and West Asia Regional Department, emphasized in his speech the need to implement the CAREC Climate Action Plan: “We hope that ministers will support this climate plan tomorrow, and it will be presented in Baku next week.”

Speaking about regional challenges, Zhukov noted that climate change is the most pressing issue. There are also certain difficulties with increasing intra-regional trade between CAREC countries. He also pointed out the need to develop various trade routes to stimulate the regional economy in the geopolitical context.

Zhukov emphasized that the Middle Corridor aims to improve transport, energy, and digital connectivity between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

The conference will continue on November 8 and will focus on discussing financing and cooperation within landmark initiatives aimed at sustainable regional development.