European Union and CAREC: Progress and Partnership on environmental issues in Central Asia

CAREC CAREC - platform for cooperation, knowledge and technology exchange: to address environmental and development challenges at the local, national and regional level through multi-state and multi-stakeholder negotiations, dialogues CAREC is promoting: development and implementation of innovative environmental development policies, management approaches and international best practices in the region

Environmental Challenges in Central Asia Degradation of Natural Resources and low efficiency of utilization Competing interests over natural resources of transboundary nature (water) Resource dependent and high footprint economies New environmental challenges and low capacities of adaptation

EU efforts in Central Asia Regional environment programme for Central Asia (EURECA): €9.2 million EURECA programme (2012-15) with following components: Environment and water cooperation platform for dialogue Sustainable use and management of natural resources in Central Asia in the areas of climate change, forest governance, ecological recovery and environmental data collection, exchange, monitoring and assessment Partnership on integrated water resources management water management to share best practice on water management between Central Asian and European water management bodies, basin organizations and help train professionals Environmental awareness-raising on Central Asia’s most problematic environmental issues

CAREC: EU funded projects AWARE COMO-EAST WMBOCA FLERMONECA CASEP Targeted Awareness Raising for Enhanced EU-CA Partnership (solely implemented by CAREC) Supporting Participation of Eastern Partnership and CA Cities in the Covenant of Mayors (partnerships) Supporting water management and strengthening Transboundary river basin administrations in Central Asia (with GIZ) Forest and Biodiversity Governance and Environmental Monitoring in five CA states (MONECA, partnership with GIZ ) Sustainable Energy Programme for Central Asia: Renewable energy sources and energy efficiency (member of consortium with other partners)

AWARE Project Main result: Activities: Partners: CARnet, DIWEcon Increased awareness on return and reused water addressing gaps in water resources management; Increased awareness on the most compatible and applicable practices such as Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS); Ensured the private sector involvement by raising awareness on sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and energy efficiency (EE) as the gateway for Public-Private Partnership (PPP). Activities: Water Supply Reports From Central Asian Countries Mass Media study tours to industrial facilities using return/recycled water Nominations of focal points in CA states on awareness building Presentation of the ENPI-SEIS experience and lessons Set of targeted national AWARE-SEIS seminars and multi-stakeholder dialogues in CA Transfer of recommendations from national SEIS seminars to internal platforms Five SEIS related country profiles Brochure on SEIS in CA states; Analytical report “Towards SEIS in CA” Analytical Country reviews on usage of SCP and EE principles by private sector in CA Set of targeted national AWARE-SPC and EE seminars for private sector in CA in collaboration with NAMA project within B2B component (DIWEcon) Green Business Club of CA - Nominations of focal points in CA Partners: CARnet, DIWEcon

Before project intervention After project intervention Project impact Indicators Before project intervention After project intervention National environment agencies involved to awareness campaign Number of journalists trained Green Business Network Education institutions Civil society organizations n/a More than 55 agencies and companies More than 90 media companies More than 48 business companies involved More than 80 institutions involved through set of Green Pack CA seminars More than 100 NGOs Number of “best practices” explored and disseminated More than more than 30 “best practices unidentified and exchanged

COMO-East Project Main result: Activities: raised awareness and built capacities for local authorities and energy managers, which are signatories to the Covenant of City Majors Methodological support to cities- signatories Activities: Five National Awareness Events First Regional Workshop for CA cities signatories CA Regional Forum in Astana Support of participation of the Central Asian countries delegations in the Regional High-Level Forum in Istanbul 14-15.10.13 CA participants took part in the training sessions and visits to Ukraine and Georgia Technical Training for CA cities – signatories of the CoMo East in Almaty on 8-9 of October 2014. Partners: Energy Cities, Climate Alliance, Association of Energy Efficient Cities of Ukraine

Before project intervention After project intervention Project impact Indicators Before project intervention After project intervention Number of signatory cities joined to COMO East initiative from CA Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAP) developed in CA Number of CA national and local experts and energy managers trained on energy efficiency, energy management and SEAP development. Zero 12 cities of Central Asia are COMO signatories 4 SEAPs developed, 2 SEAP of Somonyjon and Taraz approved. 1 SEAPs of Astana and Lisakovsk – under consideration. For the period of 2012-2015 in total, about 500 participants. Number of international events on the project. Three Study tours to Ukraine, Belgium and Georgia, trainings in Ukraine, Regional Forums in Astana and Istanbul. Number of specific CA events on the project. Five National awareness events in 5 CA countries, Technical training, Regional seminar, and three local face-to-face consultations.

WMBOCA Main result: Activities: Project assisted setting up basin council and development of Basin plans in pilot basins Activities: Support to setting up basin councils Sessions of the basin council have been conducted Support to the Basin plans development Partners: GIZ, Committee for Water resources (Kz), Aral-Syrdarya Basin Inspection, Aral-Syrdarya Basin Council.

Before project intervention After project intervention Project impact Indicators Before project intervention After project intervention Any methodological instruments developed on basin planning Number of stakeholders trained on basin planning Were not developed before 5 training modules on basin planning developed with Basin plan handbook; 3 handbooks on basin planning (regional, KG, TJ) developed 2 small basin councils developed 2 basin plans for Isfara river basin developed More than 200 participants Web portal www.riverbp.net increased awareness and information access

MONECA component of the FLERMONECA project Main result: Environmental monitoring and environmental information systems in the Central Asian countries are improved Relations and cooperation with regard to environmental monitoring between relevant national and regional institutions in Central Asia and the European Union are strengthened. Activities: Trainings on collection, processing and reporting of selected environmental indicators; Awareness raising on the Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS); Development of online interactive National State of the Environment Reports based on the environmental indicators recommended by UNECE, including analysis, data underpinning them and meta-data; Study Tour to Europe for governmental specialists on environmental monitoring and reporting in the EU and non-EU countries; Updating of the Interstate commission on Sustainable Development’s website with publication of regional environmental indicators; Development of a regional website on water quality under the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination’s website; Development of regional GIS layers displaying selected environmental indicators; Support to the participation of Central Asian countries in Pan-European processes. Partners: FLERMONECA: GIZ, Hessen-Forst; MONECA: UBA

Before project intervention After project intervention Project impact Indicators Before project intervention After project intervention Governmental specialists trained on SEIS best practices from the EU and other countries KG 2 KZ 3 TJ 2 TM 1 UZ +7 KG +7 KZ +7 TJ +6 TM +5 Governmental specialists trained on the production and reporting of specific indicators in UNECE format KG 0 KZ 0 TJ 0 TM 0 UZ 0 KG 33 KZ 25 TJ 25 TM 15 UZ 20 Online National State of Environment Reports (SOE) 1 (UZ, but not complete) 5 online SOE Currently KG SOE online. KZ, TJ, TM and UZ expected in by July 2015 Environmental indicators developed in each country in UNECE format and available online KZ 36 KZ - 7 of them improved and analyzed TJ + 6

CASEP PROJECT Partners: GIZ, GFA Main results: Activities: Improving national policies on energy saving in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan set-up of political and institutional mechanisms (e.g. interdepartmental working group under the MEWR TAJ) to implement the laws and policies TA for development of programme for use of solar PV systems for 400 rural health clinics in Uzbekistan (RHC Programme) Synchronization of project regional activities with the EU project on sustainable energy in Turkmenistan Activities: Support to policy design and formulation towards the introduction of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources at national and regional levels; Professional development of local partners in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources policies and instruments; Ensure the implementation of sustainable pilot projects in the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources; Awareness-raising on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources; Integration with INOGATE projects Partners: GIZ, GFA The key objective of the project is to assist in the set-up of the necessary policy, regulatory and institutional mechanisms enabling the penetration of renewable energy sources in the energy mix of the beneficiary countries as well as increasing the energy efficiency at national level (as measured by the energy intensity of the national economies), notably through the introduction of new, efficient and ecologically safe power plants enabled by the development of renewable energy sources for electricity generation in accordance with each country priorities.

Before project intervention After project intervention Project impact Indicators Before project intervention After project intervention Number of the developed and improved national policies on sustainable energy in the countries of Central Asia is available Laws on energy saving in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are available with a set of recommendations elaborated within the project Number of local experts to provide technical expertise on the ground No developed or improved national policies on sustainable energy are available in the countries of Central Asia No institutional mechanism is available to promote the implementation of the national policies in the countries of Central Asia Interdepartmental working group under the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources in Tajikistan is set to implement the law; 8 local experts are involved to provide technical expertise on the ground (use of solar PV systems for 400 rural health clinics in UZB; Synchronization of project regional activities with the EU project on sustainable energy in TRM; national policies on energy saving in KRG and TAJ.

I-WEB TEMPUS PROJECT Activities: Main result: Learning portal- http://iwebtempus.kz/?lang=ru press releases and newsletters are regularly produced and disseminated via the web-site, I-WEB network and social media. Textbook on IWCM- Integrated water cycle management Activities: Creation of the International Advisory Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the EU representatives of professional scientific organizations and state agencies responsible for national programs. Assessment of the current state of training IMWC, educational practices, procedures, training and retraining of technicians. Development of the programme and relevant training materials for master's and doctoral degrees on IMWC Development of procedures for internal and external quality educational programs and setting up laboratories on IMWC Creation of e a website project I-WEB. Partners: Universitat Leipzig, DE Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, ES University of Cyprus; Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, KZ Ahmed Yasawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, Shokan Ualikhanov Kokshetau State University, KZ + Non-academic partners

Before project intervention After project intervention Project impact Indicators Before project intervention After project intervention Number of courses on Integrated water cycle management (IWCM) in KAZ and CA region No special course for masters on IWCM in KAZ Master students of KAZ will start the new Course on IWCM in KAZ in 2015 Number of masters on IWCM in KAZ and CA No masters on IWCM in KAZ and CA. Special course for masters in IWCM will lead to increased number of specialists Number of special textbooks on IWCM in KAZ and CA region No special textbook for masters on IWRC in KAZfor higher education system of Kazakhstan. The textbook on IWCM for higher education system of Kazakhstan and Central Asia developed. Special web-site on the I-WEB EU TEMPUS No special web-site on the EU I-WEB TEMPUS. CAREC developed and provides regular support of the project web-site: http://iwebtempus.kz/?lang=ru, which is a part of the CAREC Knowledge portal.

CAREC: 2020 To become a Centre of Knowledge on environmental issues in CA; To expand involvement in regional environmental processes To support CA countries in international processes and financing opportunities Biodiversity: access to financial mechanisms Sustainable forestry and agriculture: challenges and sustainability Environment and Health: impact of policies and programs Urbanization: tools to manage the urban environment Food security: environmental aspects

CAREC: 2020 Knowledge and information sharing and dissemination- Knowledge Center Green development, Green Business Club- inclusion of business- serving business sector Sustainable consumption and production for Central Asia Development and capacity building for basin organizations on small transboundary rivers Regional platform: facilitating negotiations and cooperation “Think - tank”- policy and intervention assessments Project implementation unit (PIU) for international and national partners Advisory services for public and private entities on environmental issues

Thank you! www.carececo.org