Climate Seminar Series in the Velayats Concludes in Balkanabat

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.

Berkeli Atayev.