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On February 5–6, 2026, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, hosted the 6th EU–Central Asia Civil Society Forum. Organized by UNOPS in partnership with the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) under the “EU Support to Civil Society in Central Asia” program, the event gathered over 200 participants, including 100 civil society representatives (approximately 20 from each Central Asian nation). The Forum’s history dates back to 2019, with previous sessions held in Tashkent (March 2023) and Almaty (January 2025). The Almaty forum was attended by 16 representatives from 15 Turkmen organizations; this year, Turkmenistan was represented by 15 participants.

Among the Turkmen delegation, nine individuals represented various NGOs: Tebigy Kuwwat, Aarhus Centre of Turkmenistan, the Nature Preserving Society of Turkmenistan, the Union of Economists of Turkmenistan, Junior Achievement Turkmenistan, Yenme, Taze Zaman (Turkmenabat), Ecodurmush (Dashoguz), Mashgala (Mary), and Mirasly Senet. The delegation also included representatives from the “Ynamly Durmush” business entity, Turkmengazaragatnashyk, an intern from the EU Delegation to Turkmenistan, a freelancer, and a student.A Platform for Strategic Dialogue.

The 6th Forum serves as a key annual platform for structured dialogue between civil society organizations (CSOs), the European Union, and development partners. This year’s session built directly upon the outcomes of the 2025 Forum and the official establishment of five regional Thematic Working Groups (TWGs):

– Digital Transformation

– Climate Change and Environmental Protection

– Youth Participation

– Governance and Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship

– Women’s Empowerment

The Forum advances the EU Strategy for Central Asia and the priorities of the Global Gateway Initiative (GGI), strengthening the role of CSOs in the region’s future.

Opening Remarks and High-Level Support. The session was opened by Mr. Vasyl Tolkachov, Project Manager of the “EU Fund for Civil Society in Central Asia,” who introduced Ms. Simonetta Siligato, Director of the UNOPS Multi-Country Office in Austria, as the moderator for the opening ceremony.

H.E. Mr. Eduards Stiprais, EU Special Representative for Central Asia, delivered the keynote address. He emphasized that a strong civil society is vital for building resilient nations and noted that the EU highly values these engagements. He specifically highlighted the Global Gateway initiative as a cornerstone of regional cooperation.

Ms. Saira Temirbekovna Yzakova, Deputy Minister of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic, welcomed participants and noted the importance of the Forum in improving connectivity across infrastructure sectors through the Global Gateway.H.E. Ms. Antje Grawe, UN Resident Coordinator, addressed the forum remotely. She thanked the organizers and praised the Kyrgyz government for hosting the event. While emphasizing the role of CSOs in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), she also expressed concern regarding recent legislative trends affecting civic space in Kyrgyzstan, calling for reforms to restore a favorable environment for civil society.

Mr. Johannes Baur, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan, moderated a session on the Global Gateway.

Ms. Charlotte Adriaen (DG INTPA) detailed the Global Gateway Strategy, which aims to mobilize up to $300–400 billion in investments by 2027. Key priorities for Central Asia include digital connectivity, water, energy, climate change, and transport (including the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor). She mentioned Team Europe initiatives and major energy projects like Rogun and Kambar-Ata, stressing that the EU aims to “invest correctly” by listening to local communities and CSOs.

Mr. Andrea Rossi (EEAS) underscored the region’s geopolitical significance and the EU’s commitment to trade, green and digital transitions, transport, and security.

A session titled “Setting the Context: Central Asian Youth Perspectives,” moderated by Ms.Aizat Ruslanova (IDEA CA), featured representatives from Youth Advisory Councils (YAC):

• Vladislav Veber (Kazakhstan),
• Emira Seidenaliyeva (Kyrgyzstan),
• Firuz Okhunov (Tajikistan),
• Shukurgeldi Myradov (Turkmenistan)
• and Amirbek Salimov (Uzbekistan).

They concluded that regional stability requires investment in human capital and institutional partnerships.

In the afternoon, CSOs engaged in the technical task of developing regional recommendations. Key speakers from Turkmenistan included:

Climate Change and Environment: Berkeli Atayev (Director of PAE “Tebigy Kuwwat” and representative of Aarhus Centre of Turkmenistan) reported on major climate challenges and country-level recommendations.

Women’s Empowerment: Oksana Asadulina (Social Worker, NGO “Mashgala”) briefed on the status of women’s affairs.

Youth Engagement: Ayna Bayramova (Chair of “Junior Achievement Turkmenistan”) presented the national report.

Governance and Entrepreneurship: Yuri Aronsky (Chair of the “Union of Economists of Turkmenistan”) delivered the thematic presentation.

On the second day, a consolidated set of priority regional recommendations across all five thematic areas was approved.

Human Rights: Mr. Mikkel Schmidt Hansen (DIHR) discussed applying human rights and good governance principles within the Global Gateway framework.

The practical session on potential EU funding, moderated by Mr.Bolot Isakov, sparked high interest among the Forum attendees.

EU Funding: Ms. Snejana Popova (EU Delegation to Kazakhstan) and Mr. Stefano Corrado (EU Delegation to Kyrgyzstan) provided practical guidance on grant application procedures and current funding opportunities.

The last session of the Forum was about Small Grants.  Ms. Regina Kireyeva (UNOPS) announced a call for small grants under the “EU Fund for Civil Society in Central Asia” project. For 2026, $225,000 has been allocated to fund 15 applications (up to $15,000 each), with a deadline of February 15, 2026.

Each session was followed by a dedicated Q&A period.

In his closing remarks, Ms. Simonetta Siligato, Director of the UNOPS Multi-Country Office in Austria thanked all participants for their fruitful work, noting that the results would be instrumental in preparing for the 7th Forum and for the overall development of civil society in Central Asia.

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Berkeli Atayev.

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Ashgabat, January 9, 2026. At the initiative of the Public Association (PA) “Junior Achievement Turkmenistan,” a meeting was held bringing together 20 representatives from non-governmental organizations and socially-oriented economic societies to discuss the role of youth in the development of civil society.

The primary objective of the meeting was to prepare a national presentation for the upcoming 6th EU Central Asia Civil Society Forum, scheduled for February 5–6, 2026, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The Forum is a key component of the four-year project, “Support Fund for Civil Society in Central Asia,” implemented by UNOPS in partnership with the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) and with financial support from the European Union. A core task of the project is the formation of five Thematic Working Groups (TWGs), including one specifically dedicated to Youth Engagement.

Recognizing that youth-focused work is integrated into nearly every civil society organization, “Junior Achievement Turkmenistan” sought to consolidate efforts to address key challenges, thematic recommendations, and the strengths of current youth policy development.

“Our goal is to identify challenges common to the region and, more importantly, to define unique opportunities for cooperation that will allow young people to become full participants in the country’s socio-economic life,” the organizers noted.

A distinctive feature of the preparation for the Bishkek forum is the deep integration of various expert communities. According to the TWG guidelines, each group must include organizations from all five Central Asian countries. At the conclusion of the current stage, the findings of the five thematic groups will be synthesized into a single, unified national presentation for Turkmenistan. For instance, the Public Association Enterprise “Tebigy Kuwwat,” a member of the “Climate Change and the Environment” TWG, has already submitted its national presentation for the upcoming Forum.

The efforts to strengthen youth engagement discussed at this meeting represent just one of the five components of a comprehensive national report.

During the discussion, participants identified several key barriers facing modern youth:

• The Education-Labor Market Gap: The urgent need to adapt academic knowledge to the practical demands of the digital economy.
• Access to Resources in Regions: The necessity of expanding infrastructure to support youth self-actualization in rural areas.

Public organizations possess unique expert capital, which was utilized to form a package of concrete steps to elevate the role of youth. These include the establishment of permanent dialogue platforms between youth leaders and the business community, as well as the expansion of vocational guidance programs.

Special emphasis was placed on regional cooperation within Central Asia. Experts proposed several strategic initiatives:

• Joint Hubs for launching startups with a social impact.
• A Regional Volunteer Network.
• Knowledge Exchange in the fields of ecology, culture, and inclusion.
• A Unified Web Platform to serve as a hub for exchanging best practices among NGOs across Central Asian countries.

The meeting demonstrated that the youth of Turkmenistan are prepared not only to adopt international best practices but also to propose their own innovative solutions for the development of the entire region.

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Ayna Atayeva.

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On December 22—the date officially designated this year by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan as Energy Worker’s Day—a meeting was held at the Kazakh-German University (DKU), Almaty between Berkeli Atayev, Director of the “Tebigy Kuwwat” Enterprise of the Public Association “Nature Preserving Society of Turkmenistan” (NPST), and Alexey Kobzev, Head of the Master’s program in “Strategic Management of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency” and the Green Energy and Climate Change Lab. of the Center for Natural Resources and Sustainability at DKU.
The discussion focused on the prospects for academic cooperation regarding the energy transition to Renewable Energy Sources (RES). Key topics included data exchange and the involvement of specialists, undergraduate, and graduate students in environmental events hosted in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and across the Central Asian region.

The participants noted a burgeoning interest among Turkmen youth in pursuing Master’s degrees at DKU, particularly in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a field of critical importance for Turkmenistan. It was highlighted that young environmentalists from the “Tebigy Kuwwat” Public Association Enterprise are currently successfully completing their second year of Master’s studies in the IWRM program.
Both Central Asian nations possess immense potential for developing a “Green Economy” and making significant contributions to energy sector sustainability with a minimal carbon footprint.

The partners exchanged warm holiday greetings for the upcoming New Year 2026. As a gesture of future cooperation, Mr. Kobzev presented Mr. Atayev with the latest issue of the “Qazaq Green” information and analytical magazine.

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Berkeli Atayev.

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On 23 December 2025 the 62nd meeting of the Board of Governors (BoG) of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) took place in Almaty. The meeting, held at the CARECeco headquarters, brought together all 13 members of the Board, as well as the Executive Director, Batyr Mammedov (elected in May of this year), and Secretary Ayrailym Shulgauova. The session was also attended by Oleg Pechenyuk, Chairman of the CAREC Public Advisory Council (PAC).

The Chairman of the Board, Sino Tohir Tohirzoda, opened the meeting with welcoming remarks, after which a quorum was established and the agenda was approved. Key items for consideration included:

• A progress report on instructions issued by the Executive Director following the 60th and 61st BoG meetings;
• Approval of the “CAREC Development Strategy for 2026-2030”;
• Technical and financial reports on CAREC’s activities for 2025;
• Preparations for the upcoming Central Asian Conference on Climate Change (CACCC-2026);
• Reporting presentations from the directors of CAREC country branches;
• The appointment of a BoG representative to oversee the selection of an auditing firm for CAREC’s financial audit;
• Discussions regarding the terms of office for several Board members and other miscellaneous business.

Executive Director Batyr Mamedov presented the finalized “CAREC Development Strategy for 2026-2030”. The document is built around five key priorities, notably the fourth priority: “Strengthening Partnerships with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and environmental security.” The Board members unanimously approved and adopted the strategic document.

The reports delivered by the CAREC team demonstrated a clear growth dynamic, both in terms of economic and financial performance and the expansion of partnership cooperation. The country directors particularly emphasized the increasing interaction between CAREC branches and government bodies, non-profit organizations, and business structures. Discussions highlighted the progress of ongoing initiatives and the prospects for new environmental projects being co-developed with strategic government agencies and international donor organizations.

Berkeli Atayev, Director of the ‘Tebigy Kuwwat’ Public Association Enterprise and a member of the Board of Governors representing the civil sector, noted that the CAREC branch in Turkmenistan has significantly expanded its cooperation with CSOs over the past two years. He highlighted successful initiatives such as facilitating civil sector participation in national and regional forums, the Central Asian Leadership Programme for Young Environmentalists (CALP), and supporting young NGO representatives in pursuing Master’s degrees at the Kazakh-German University (DKU).

“Cooperation with the civil sector is a vital component of CAREC, as our organizational and legal structure aligns with that of a civil society organization. Consequently, this area has always received, and will continue to receive, significant attention. While the current the Concept of interaction between CAREC and civil society organizations in Central Asia 2020-2025 is nearing its conclusion, the new CAREC Strategy for 2026-2030 provides detailed frameworks for continued engagement with Central Asian CSOs,” – Mr. Atayev added. He also expressed a desire to see Board members more deeply involved in CAREC’s operations and representing the Centre at national, regional, and international levels.

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Berkeli Atayev.

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Ashgabat, December 20, 2025. At the very heart of the city, within the doors of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkmenistan, a true winter fairy tale came to life today. For the third consecutive year, the EU Delegation welcomed book lovers, families, and holiday enthusiasts to its now-cherished tradition: the Christmas Book Fair. Notably, at the invitation of the organizers, the event was attended by representatives of several public organizations, including “Tebigy Kuwwat,” the Aarhus Centre of Turkmenistan, the Nature Preserving Society of Turkmenistan (NPST), and the National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan (NRCST).

A Tangible Connection with Books. In an era of digital technology and endless social media scrolling, this celebration set an ambitious and noble goal: to bring “living” paper books back into fashion. “We want to remind everyone of the incredible pleasure of holding a new book, smelling the printer’s ink, and turning the pages. This is not just about literacy; it is a culture of genuine interaction,” the organizers noted.

“For us, this project is more than just a cultural event; it is an opportunity to show that a book is one’s best friend and mentor. Seeing children’s eyes light up when they receive their first big book confirms that the tradition of family reading in Turkmenistan is alive and thriving. For the third year running, we have created this space of trust and knowledge,” emphasized Aygul Byashimova.

The impressions of the guests confirmed that the younger generation has not lost interest in physical pages and reading. Aylar, a visitor and mother of two children, shared: “We came for books but ended up in a real Christmas movie! The children loved Santa’s post—they spent half an hour carefully writing every word of their letters. I even found a rare classic edition I’d been looking for. A huge thanks to organazers for such a warm welcome and delicious tea!”

Books, Souvenirs, and the Spirit of Christmas. For one day, the entire EU Delegation office in Turkmenistan was transformed into a cozy European quarter. Small book stalls featured rare editions, classics, and children’s and foreign literature, while local artisans displayed unique handmade souvenirs. The atmosphere was enhanced by a hospitable food court, where every guest was greeted with warming tea, aromatic coffee, and gourmet snacks. The air was filled with the scent of pine needles and home-baked treats, creating the feeling of a family holiday.

The true stars of the event were the books, Santa Claus, the letters, and a surprise flashmob. The heart of the event was undoubtedly Santa’s Express Mail, where the queue of people eager to send their most cherished wishes remained long until evening. Children and adults alike enthusiastically entrusted their dreams to paper.

Santa Claus himself ensured there wasn’t a dull moment. Countless smiles were captured at the festive photo zone, and an impromptu, energetic dance by Santa brought everyone to their feet, turning the fair into a true festival of joy.

Arslan, a student and book enthusiast, remarked: “In the age of smartphones, you sometimes forget how cool it is to just sit with a paper book in a cozy atmosphere. The flashmob with Santa was a total game-changer! It was very fun and, most importantly, sincere. It’s great that Ashgabat has such venues for live interaction.”

The third EU Christmas Book Fair in Turkmenistan once again proved that a book is the best reason to bring people together. This Saturday, the Delegation office became a place where people didn’t just buy gifts but exchanged warmth, emotions, and a love for reading. Despite the chilly weather, the atmosphere of celebration and community kept everyone warm. It was particularly heartening to see so many children and young people interested in books. As the event drew to a close, guests left not only with bags full of books and souvenirs but also with that special “afterglow” of a miracle that only happens at Christmas.

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Ayna Atayeva.

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The final seminar in the series on «Strengthening the Role of Civil Society in the Context of Climate Change» was held in Balkanabat on the first day of winter, 2025. This series is part of the project implemented by the «Tebigy Kuwwat» enterprise of the Nature Preserving Society of Turkmenistan (NPST) Public Association, funded by the European Union (EU). Prior seminars had been successfully conducted in Mary, Turkmenabat, and Dashoguz since October of this year.

Twenty representatives from various organizations gathered in the stylish hall of the Self-Development Centre in Balkanabat, owned by entrepreneur Akmaral Hudayberdiyeva and managed by Liana Barsigyan: the Balkan velayat branch of the NPST Public Association, the Balkan velayat branch of the «Central Physical Culture and Sports Club for the Disabled of Turkmenistan», the company «Eni Turkmenistan Limited», volunteers from the Balkan velayat branch of the National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan (NRCST), and local entrepreneurs.

The seminar followed the same format as in previous regional centers, featuring the same speakers and presentations. Berkeli Atayev, Director of the PAE «Tebigy Kuwwat» and representative of the Aarhus Centre of Turkmenistan, presented on «Turkmenistan in the Era of Global Warming». Meylis Rejepov, Renewable Energy Sources (RES) Specialist at «Tebigy Kuwwat», presented on «Anthropogenic Impact on Climate Change and the Transformation of the RES Sector». Zahira Ongarbayevna Begaliyeva, Advisor to the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Director of the «ITeachMe» Competence Development Center, joined via video link to present «Enhancing the Role of Society Amidst Climate Change». Finally, Ayna Atayeva, Project Manager at «Tebigy Kuwwat», presented on «The Role of Civil Society and Youth Participation in Combating Climate Change».

Each region of the country possesses unique characteristics and vulnerabilities to climate change. Given that the Balkan velayat holds vast reserves of hydrocarbon resources, the exploitation of which leads to significant emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), particularly methane GHGs, the seminar was highly animated. Discussions focused on potential measures for both climate change mitigation and adaptation.

A particularly interesting contribution came from Ovlyaguly Kurbanov, Director of the NPST’s Balkan branch, who shared his experience in utilizing drainage and sewage water for watering seedlings in nurseries, addressing the local scarcity of irrigation water. This approach is aimed at the rational use of wastewater, thereby reducing the environmental load and consequently minimizing odor diffusion from sewage.

Volunteers from the NRCST, some of whom also volunteer for the Public Association «Mert», discussed their involvement in tree-planting campaigns in remote natural areas. Despite the deficit of irrigation water, the volunteers find solutions for watering the planted trees, motivated by their dedication to results. One such solution involves reservoirs, constructed by the PA «Mert», for accumulating rainwater and/or low-yield water sources. Naturally, all presentations were of interest to the participants; specifically, Z. Begaliyeva’s presentation was highly relevant for the volunteers, as the core of the NRCST volunteer movement involves providing first aid and the correct evacuation of casualties, particularly Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), during emergency situations—and climate change is often the underlying cause of natural disasters and technological accidents.The seminar in Balkanabat was highly informative and well-received by the audience. The speakers provided their presentations and contact information to the participants to maintain future follow-up communication.

With this, the series of seminars in the regional centers on civil society participation in the context of climate change is complete. The «Tebigy Kuwwat» Public Association Enterprise will now proceed with conducting four identical seminars in Ashgabat.

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Berkeli Atayev.

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On November 28, 2025, the «Tebigy Kuwwat» enterprise of the «Nature Preserving Society of Turkmenistan» Public Association conducted a one-day seminar titled «Strengthening the Role of Civil Society in the Context of Climate Change» in the country’s northern regional center, Dashoguz city. This seminar is the third in a series planned for all regions (velayats) and is part of the eponymous project by the «Tebigy Kuwwat» Public Association Enterprise, which is funded by the European Union (EU). Prior awareness-raising seminars for civil society on climate challenges were previously held in the cities of Mary and Turkmenabat.

The seminar took place in the cozy office of «Ekodurmush», a partner Public Association in Dashoguz.Seventeen individuals attended the seminar, representing the Kaplankyr State Nature Reserve, the Dashoguz velayat branch of the Public Association «Nature Preserving Society of Turkmenistan», the Public Association «Ekodurmush», and the Dashoguz velayat branch of the «Central Physical Culture and Sports Club for the Disabled of Turkmenistan».

The seminar was traditionally moderated by Berkeli Atayev, Director of the «Tebigy Kuwwat» Public Association Enterprise and representative of the Aarhus Centre of Turkmenistan. He welcomed all participants, reviewed the day’s agenda, and delivered the first presentation, «Turkmenistan in the Era of Global Warming». He covered national and international acts on climate change, the assessment of natural and economic damage from climate change, how climate change affects vulnerable population groups, and potential cooperation within local and regional climate initiatives.

The second speaker, Meylis Rejepov, Renewable Energy Sources (RES) Specialist at the «Tebigy Kuwwat» Public Association Enterprise, presented on «Anthropogenic Impact on Climate Change and the Transformation of the RES Sector». In his report, M. Rejepov particularly emphasized how humans can contribute both negatively and positively to the process of global warming, and the urgent necessity of transitioning to RES, especially given all the prerequisites present in Turkmenistan for this shift.

During the coffee and tea break, seminar participants were shown a short video clip titled, «How to Stop Global Warming».

The seminar content was meticulously developed to encompass the climate change response of all segments of the population, and a conscious decision was made to integrate an inclusion component. This involved a direct video conference connection with Zahira Ongarbayevna Begaliyeva, Director of the «IteachMe» Competence Development Center and Advisor to the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Ms. Z. Begaliyeva’s presentation, «Enhancing the Role of Society Amidst Climate Change», addressed the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), the factors by which climate change impacts PWDs, and the need to integrate PWD needs into climate strategies. The speaker provided examples of legislation, responses, and reaction mechanisms for PWDs to natural and man-made challenges in the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as instances of international best practice. The presentation was particularly engaging for the PWDs attending the seminar, who actively debated the issues, posed questions, and received comprehensive answers.

The concluding presentation was delivered by Ayna Atayeva, Project Manager for the «Strengthening the Role of Civil Society in the Context of Climate Change» project. Her presentation, titled «The Role of Civil Society and Youth Participation in Combating Climate Change», addressed the core objective of the seminar. Specifically, she highlighted the importance of civil society representatives participating in environmental decision-making at both national and regional levels. She emphasized the growing significance recently placed on youth involvement in climate action. As noted in her speech, Turkmenistan has been hosting an annual Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) on Climate Change since 2021, held in preparation for the global Conference of Youth (COY) and the Conference of the Parties (COP) sessions of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Upon the seminar’s conclusion, participants and organizers expressed mutual gratitude for the keen interest shown in the topic, agreed to maintain follow-up communication, and committed to future meetings on various platforms to discuss climate change and pressing environmental issues in general.

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Berkeli Atayev.

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Yesterday, November 18, 2025, the International Scientific Conference «Towards Sustainable Civilization Development: Cooperation, Science, Education, Technology – The Path of CIS Countries to the 17 SDGs: A Comprehensive Approach» commenced at the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University).

The conference aims to engage the expert and youth scientific community in discussing pressing contemporary issues, challenges, potential trends, and directions for the development of CIS member states, as well as raising awareness about humanity’s global Sustainable Development Goals.

This is the fourth time RUDN University has hosted the International Scientific Conference dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Given the relevance of the topics discussed, the event annually attracts over 1,500 participants from 60 countries. This year, at the invitation of the organizers, Berkeli Atayev, Director of the «Tebigy Kuwwat»’ Public Association Enterprise, participated in an online format. He delivered a presentation titled «Scenario of Climate Change Consequences in Turkmenistan.»

B. Atayev was allotted time to speak in Section 3: «Promising Directions for Low-Carbon Development Policy of the CIS Member States,» as part of Session No. 2 on the second day of the conference, which focused on the theme of «Biosphere.»In his presentation, he provided a concise overview of Turkmenistan’s regulatory and legal framework concerning climate change; the impact of climate change on natural resources, the economy, and vulnerable populations in Turkmenistan; the transformation of the Renewable Energy Sources (RES) sector; and the exchange of experience in addressing climate and environmental issues at both local and regional levels.

Each day of the conference is marked by a distinct theme, with numerous session halls and sections within them. For instance, the third day of the conference, November 20, is dedicated to the theme of «Economics, Politics, Law, Partnerships,» and the concluding day, November 21, focuses on «Society.»

RUDN University serves as a working platform for the exchange of experience among young scientists, business leaders, government representatives, and experts in the fields of sustainable development and Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance. Participants share their knowledge and expertise to implement scientific, academic, and socially significant projects aimed at achieving the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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Berkeli Atayev.

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On November 4, 2025, the Ashgabat-based “Tebigy Kuwwat” enterprise, a component of the  for the “Nature Preserving Society of Turkmenistan” Public Association, conducted another one-day seminar in the country’s easternmost regional capital, Turkmenabat. The seminar was titled:“Strengthening the Role of Civil Society in the Context of Climate Change.” This event, which aims to raise civil society awareness regarding climate challenges, is a continuation of the seminar series launched in the city of Mary and is being implemented with the financial support of the European Union (EU).

Seventeen representatives of civil society from the Lebap velayat—including the Public Association “Täze Zaman,” the Lebap branch of the Nature Preserving Society of Turkmenistan, and disability and women’s communities—convened in the welcoming hall of the host organization, “Täze Zaman.”

The seminar was moderated by Berkeli Atayev, Director of the “Tebigy Kuwwat” Public Association Enterprise, and was conducted in a hybrid format. It featured the online participation of Mr. Borislav Dimitrov, Programme Manager for the Delegation of the European Union to Turkmenistan. Mr. Dimitrov warmly greeted all participants, highlighted the importance and necessity of international cooperation in combating environmental challenges, and wished everyone a productive session.

The event’s speakers were: B. Atayev with a presentation titled “Turkmenistan in the Era of Global Warming”; Zahira Ongarbayevna Begaliyeva, Advisor to the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Director of the ‘ITeachMe’ Competence Development Center, who presented online on “The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Climate Change”; Meylis Rejepov, Renewable Energy Sources (RES) Specialist at the “Tebigy Kuwwat” Public Association Enterprise, who delivered a presentation on “Anthropogenic Impact on Climate Change and the Transformation of the RES Sector”; and Ayna Atayeva, Project Manager at the “Tebigy Kuwwat” Public Association Enterprise, whose presentation was on “The Role of Civil Society and Youth Participation in Combating Climate Change.”

All presentations were engaging for the audience. Following each session, participants discussed urgent issues related to global warming, shared their perspectives and experiences, and proposed ideas for tackling climate change and improving the overall environmental component. Participants and organizers expressed mutual gratitude for the keen interest shown in the topic, agreed to maintain follow-up communication, and committed to future meetings on various platforms to address relevant environmental issues.

The meeting concluded with a pleasant gesture, as Mubarak Rejepovna Kurbanova, Chairperson of the “Täze Zaman” Public Assosiation, presented the guests from Ashgabat with commemorative gifts. These gifts—handicrafts created by the organization’s target group—were offered in appreciation for the informative seminar on such a relevant topic. Notably, some of the handicrafts carried an acknowledgment of support from the donor, the European Union .

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Berkeli Atayev.