Climate seminar for civil society held in Mary

Yesterday, on 27 October 2025, the “Tebigy Kuwwat” enterprise of the Public Association “Nature Preserving Society of Turkmenistan” conducted a one-day seminar in the Mary city titled: “Strengthening the Role of Civil Society in the Context of Climate Change.” The event was dedicated to one of the most pressing global issues: climate change.

This seminar serves as the launch event for a series of similar workshops scheduled to take place in all regional (velayats) centers across the country. The project is being implemented with the financial support of the European Union (EU), underscoring international cooperation in tackling environmental challenges.

The seminar convened representatives from the regional civil society, including the Mary branch of the “Nature Preserving Society of Turkmenistan”, the Public Association “Mashgala,” the Economic Society “Dyap-Dessur,” with the online participation of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkmenistan.

Participants delved into current issues related to global warming and its impact on Turkmenistan. Berkeli Atayev, Director of the PAE “Tebigy Kuwwat”, opened the discussion by presenting a report on “Turkmenistan in the Context of Global Warming” and the current national situation, emphasizing the need for immediate action.

Meylis Rejepov, a Renewable Energy Sources (RES) specialist, focused his presentation on the anthropogenic factor in climate change, noting the critical contribution of humanity to climate change processes and the necessity of implementing policies to mitigate harmful environmental impact. In Turkmenistan, as globally, a genuine transformation is underway in the RES sector, where solar and wind energy are emerging as key tools for sustainable development.

A particular highlight was the online address by Zahira Ongarbayevna Begaliyeva, Director of the “ITeachMe” Competence Development Center and Advisor to the Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

She shared her country’s experience in adhering to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and elaborated on the linkages between climate change and the rights of people with disabilities, stressing that global challenges disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations.

“Climate crises exacerbate inequality,” Z. Begaliyeva stated. “We need to build an inclusive society where all voices are heard.”

“The problem of climate change is one of the most urgent issues currently occupying the attention of all humanity. Our project is aimed at increasing public awareness about climate change, its preventative measures, consequences, and strategies for counteracting climate challenges. We deliberately chose to augment the seminar’s theme with the vital component of climate change’s impact on the lives of people with disabilities, thus making our society more inclusive and democratic. The experience shared by Kazakhstan proved very valuable to the seminar participants,” commented B. Atayev.

The seminar concluded with a presentation by Ayna Atayeva, the Project Manager, who shared knowledge and experience regarding public participation, particularly youth engagement, in the fight against climate change across the country and the Central Asian region.

All participants and organizers expressed mutual gratitude for the keen interest shown in the topic, agreed to maintain follow-up communication, and committed to meeting again on various platforms to discuss relevant environmental issues.

Ayna Atayeva.