Central Asia Pre-COP29 Conference in Bishkek

On September 25-26, ILUCA participated in the Central Asian pre-COP29 conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, focused on adaptation planning and finance, with support from UNDP.

ILUCA Program Director, Mr. Gerecke, participated in a plenary and reflected on the key issues pertaining climate change adaptation in Central Asia regarding finance, partnership, and awareness.

Discussing finance for climate adaptation, he highlighted the importance of unveiling finance available through a wide array of funds and international institutions. While GCF is a significant source of finance, the countries can increase their reach via accessing other funds, too. It is also vital to accelerate private sector and public budget to finance adaptation. Having noted this, Mr. Gerecke stressed that accessing finance is only a step towards the ultimate goal – effective implementation, driven by robust tools, methodologies, and institutional capacity.

Adaptation is a complex process which has a multi-level, multidimensional, and cross-sectoral nature. In Mr. Gerecke’s words, “While adaptation takes place on local level, mainstreaming of climate change efforts through provision of regulatory frameworks must happen on national level, and because it is a transboundary issue, adaptation needs coordination on regional level.” This complexity is further deepened by the multidimensional expertise and cross-sectoral collaboration required to tackle these issues. The world and the region are facing a three-fold crisis, lying in climate change, biodiversity stress, and land degradation. These need to be considered together, and synergies need to be established among the relevant coordinating mechanisms represented by UNFCCC, UNCBD, and UNCCD.

Coherence is the key for achieving adaptation goals. Central Asia countries need to have clear commitments and ownership, and integrate climate efforts with national development goals. Along with that, development partners and donors must enhance coordination and build structured partnership.

He concluded by reaffirming GIZ’s commitment to advancing adaptation efforts across Central Asia – jointly with its national and regional partners and under the umbrella of the German Government’s Green Central Asia Initiative- through regional and bilateral projects on political dialogue, water, climate risk, integrative land use, biodiversity, green economy and through the implementation of GCF Readiness measures.