9th Climate Development Partners Group Meeting Held in Ashgabat

On May 21, 2026, the UN Building in Ashgabat hosted the ninth coordination meeting of the Climate Development Partners Group.Organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkmenistan in cooperation with the British Embassy in Ashgabat, the meeting was attended by: Ms. Narine Sahakyan, UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan; Mr. Makhtumkuli Akmuradov, Ambassador and Advisor to the Department of International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan; Mr. Stephen Conlon, His Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador to Turkmenistan; Mr. Ahmet Demirok, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Turkmenistan; Mr. Ahmed Al-Hameli, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the UAE to Turkmenistan; Mr. Gismat Gozalov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan; Mr. Chary Nurmuhammedov, Senior Coordination Officer, Strategic Planning / Head of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office; Mr. Farhat Orunov, UNDP Programme Analyst; representatives of the EU Delegation to Turkmenistan; the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat; the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Turkmenistan; Mr. Berkeli Atayev, Director of the “Tebigy Kuwwat” Public Association Enterprise and representative of the Aarhus Centre in Turkmenistan, along with other representatives of international organizations.

The meeting focused on climate action, the development of Turkmenistan’s next Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), UN support for this process, and other ongoing partner initiatives aimed at advancing the country’s climate agenda.

The meeting was opened by Ms. N. Sahakyan, who provided a brief overview of the Climate Development Partners Group’s work. In particular, she noted that over a year had passed since their last meeting in the same building in February 2025. Since then, major environmental forums have taken place, including COP30 in Belém, Brazil, and the 2026 Regional Environmental Summit (RES) in Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan, where group members actively participated. Several national climate initiatives were also advanced, including the preparation and submission of the Vienna Report to the Climate Change Convention, the formulation and submission of the 4th National Communication to the UNFCCC, and, notably, the upcoming NDC 3.0 alongside other climate reporting. She highlighted that by the end of this year, three critical Conferences of the Parties (COP) to Rio Conventions will take place in the region: the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (Mongolia, August), the Convention on Biological Diversity (Armenia, October), and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (Antalya, Türkiye, November). Additionally, the VIII Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, this June, with the composition of Turkmenistan’s delegation currently under review. December will also feature the UN Water Conference, co-chaired by the UAE.

Mr. Stephen Conlon, His Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador to Turkmenistan, opened his remarks by stating that the UK is actively promoting COP31 and implementing large-scale climate action. The country’s primary efforts include:

• Net Zero Target by 2050• Energy Decarbonization

• Fossil Fuel Phase-out

• Green Transport: The authorities plan to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, transitioning entirely to electric vehicles (EVs).

• Building Energy Efficiency

• Funding and Support: The UK is allocating substantial funds to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects and supporting developing countries in combating climate threats.

Mr. M. Akmuradov provided a summary of the key climate action initiatives being undertaken in Turkmenistan:

– For a long time, the UN office and other organizations have been working jointly in Turkmenistan to establish a regional center for climate technologies. An agreement was reached with the FAO, which provided technical assistance; two experts have been hired and have commenced work. Within two months, they will finalize the operational documents for the office, covering the organizational and legal framework as well as the general operational parameters of the center.The next step toward launching the Center is the participation of Turkmenistan’s delegation in the Pre-COP 31 proceedings in Doha on June 8–18. This delegation should include senior leadership from the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, the national focal point for the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A similar practice was successfully implemented two years ago ahead of COP. Staff participation has already been secured with the support of the FAO project.

During the meetings in Doha, it is crucial to engage with potential donors for climate projects—primarily representatives from the GCF, alongside the GEF and the Adaptation Fund. Notably, six months ago at the ‘Dushanbe Invest-2025’ forum, the GCF offered to provide the funding necessary for the Center’s operations for at least a six-month budget cycle. Side negotiations with international organizations are scheduled on the margins of the Pre-COP. The tentative opening date for the Center is set for late October 2026, with an official announcement to follow at COP31. At the Astana RES 2026 in April, a dedicated session focused on Turkmenistan’s initiatives: the Regional Center for Climate Technologies and the Regional Center to Combat Desertification. Regarding the former initiative, absolute support was expressed by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Consequently, the consent of practically all regional countries has been secured. In this regard, we need to collectively map out a scenario for announcing the opening of the Center at COP31, as well as delivering a detailed presentation on its structure, objectives, and activities.

I would also like to highlight the EU-supported methane project, where the State Concern ‘Turkmengas’ is the primary stakeholder. Delivery of high-cost, compact portable units for capturing methane greenhouse gas leaks is currently expected. Furthermore, a National Strategy on Public Awareness of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and Energy Efficiency has been drafted and is currently undergoing domestic interagency approval.

Mr. Ahmet Demirok delivered a presentation on the Republic of Türkiye’s preparatory work for the upcoming monumental environmental event—the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), scheduled to take place on November 9–20, 2026, in Antalya:

– Today, we face not only the escalating impacts of climate change but also a complex global landscape shaped by geopolitical tensions, energy security challenges, and rising vulnerabilities. These compounding crises further underscore the urgent need for immediate climate action. Under these circumstances, Türkiye has been entrusted with the COP31 Presidency. This responsibility reflects our firm commitment to multilateralism and the advancement of the global climate agenda.This commitment is also deeply rooted in our history. Türkiye and Australia share a unique historical bond forged during the 1915 Gallipoli Campaign. Although our two nations met on the battlefield as fierce adversaries, the mutual respect between Turkish soldiers and the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) troops laid the foundation for a lasting friendship. Over the subsequent decades, this military encounter evolved into a profound diplomatic and cultural partnership. Today, as both nations jointly honor their fallen heroes on those historic battlefields, we continue to exemplify how former adversaries can successfully build a peaceful, cooperative future.Türkiye’s special ties and cooperation with Australia in this process have resulted in a unique hosting format for COP31. Türkiye will host COP31 from November 9 to 20, 2026, and the Leaders’ Summit on November 11–12 in Antalya, while leading the Climate Action Agenda. Australia will serve as the ‘Chair of Negotiations.’Mr. Murat Kurum, our Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, has been designated as the COP31 President-Designate. Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Mr. Chris Bowen, will serve as the Chair of Negotiations. Mr. Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation, has been appointed as the UN High-Level Climate Champion. The candidacy for the Youth Climate Champion, Sally Higgins, was put forward by Australia.

Meanwhile, the Pre-COP meeting will take place in Fiji, with its high-level component hosted in Tuvalu on October 5–8, aligning with Australia’s priority to bring global attention to the vulnerability of the Pacific region. We believe this innovative model demonstrates how collaborative leadership can foster a more balanced and inclusive process.

We are working in close coordination with the COP29 and COP30 Presidencies—Azerbaijan and Brazil. As the COP31 Presidency, our approach is underpinned by three core principles: dialogue, consensus, and action. Through dialogue, we aim to rebuild trust; through consensus, we seek common ground; and through action, we are determined to translate commitments into tangible results.

Over the past 30 years, the international community has made significant progress in setting targets. However, we believe that the credibility of this process now hinges on delivering concrete results on the ground. This is why, over time, the COP Climate Action Agenda has become a vital pillar of the global climate regime. We intend to focus not only on negotiated outcomes but also on real-economy transformation and practical deliverables. Our goal is clear: to deliver an implementation-focused COP that accounts for diverse national circumstances.

We will announce the priorities of our ‘COP31 Climate Action Agenda’ at the 64th sessions of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies in Bonn. Our priorities include: the clean energy transition, the ‘zero waste’ approach with an emphasis on climate mitigation, climate-resilient and low-emission cities, green industrialization, food security, oceans and seas, and the resilience of vulnerable regions such as the Mediterranean, alongside the Pacific and Africa.

We intend to incorporate the ‘zero waste’ concept as a critical dimension of mitigation efforts within our COP31 Action Agenda, given that waste is a major source of methane and carbon dioxide emissions. In this regard, we have appointed the President of the Zero Waste Foundation as the COP31 High-Level Climate Champion.

‘Rio Synergy’ will be one of our key focus areas, emphasizing that the integrated implementation of the three Rio Conventions is essential to protecting our planet through a holistic approach. We will also ensure that youth voices are at the heart of climate action through Youth Climate Envoys, as the ownership of the younger generation is our future.We are fully committed to conducting our Presidency in a transparent, inclusive, and consultative manner. Throughout this process, we are engaging with all Parties, regional groups, and stakeholders. We view international organizations as pivotal actors. In this context, we have established strategic partnerships with the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and we will co-chair the FAST (‘Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation’) initiative launched under the leadership of the FAO.Together with the UNDP, we are currently developing the Climate Action Implementation Accelerator to provide a platform that connects the private sector, developing nations, and climate projects. Recently, on May 8–9, 2026, in collaboration with UN-Habitat and the UNECE, we organized a COP31 regional event on sustainable cities in Hatay. As part of the COP31 preparatory process, The Zero Waste Forum will be held in Istanbul on June 5–7, 2026, to raise global awareness and strengthen cooperation against food loss and waste.

We look forward to welcoming you to Antalya from November 9 to 20, 2026. (The official COP31 website, cop31.tr, was recently launched, featuring an integrated booking platform).

The Ambassador of the UAE to Turkmenistan, Mr. Ahmed Al-Hameli, delivered a presentation on water sustainability and the upcoming UN Water Conference, co-chaired by the UAE:

– We are speaking about three conventions: Combatting Desertification, Biodiversity, and Climate Change. The UAE attaches great importance to partnering with various countries in alignment with national priorities. The UAE recognizes that economic development is intricately linked to climate change. We see that environmental challenges are increasingly interconnected and require coordinated, practical solutions. The UAE fully supports economic cooperation and practical partnerships, and will assist countries in addressing climate change and adaptation challenges. Water remains a vital element for national economic development. The Abu Dhabi Fund has allocated 2 billion USD to finance partnership enhancement and the pursuit of solutions for natural resource sustainability.

In conclusion, Mr. Stephen Conlon and Ms. Narine Sahakyan summarized the meeting, thanking all participants and speakers for their time and informative presentations. They assured that all proposals raised during the session would be reviewed on the sidelines of the upcoming events outlined during this 9th meeting before the end of the year. The moderator and the Climate Development Partners Group placed special emphasis on Turkmenistan’s efforts to establish the Regional Center for Climate Technologies in Ashgabat and to officially announce its launch at COP31 in Antalya. The next (10th) meeting will take place in late November or early December 2026 to serve as a year-end reporting session and a review of the outcomes of COP31.

Berkeli Atayev.