World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5 every year. The celebration of this date this year is especially important as the UN celebrates its 75th anniversary of its founding in 2020.
The UN consists of a number of international organizations. United Nations Development Program (UNDP), established in 1965, is one of the entities of the UN active in environmental protection and maintaining ecological balance. The UNDP supports the implementation of Turkmenistan’s state environmental policy
The UNDP in Turkmenistan implements a number of joint environmental projects with many other international organizations, including the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the United Nations Industrial Development Program (UNIDO), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Central Asia Regional Environmental Center (CAREC), German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS).
In Turkmenistan, the UNDP is carrying out a number of projects and contributing to national programs on climate change. The UNDP took an active part in the development (in 2012) and then the revision of the National Climate Change Strategy of Turkmenistan, which was approved in 2019. The UNDP also assisted in the development of draft new laws of Turkmenistan on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.
The UNDP also provides significant support to the development of a modern environmental monitoring system. Particularly, with the support of the organization, air pollution control equipment was purchased in Ashgabat and in the country’s velayat centers.
The UNDP is currently implementing a project in Dashoguz and Lebap velayats aimed at improving the reclamation state of irrigated lands. To date, the project has helped to carry out effective management of agricultural land on pilot plots with a total area of more than 12 thousand hectares and over 105 thousand hectares of natural pastures.
The UNDP is also implementing a project aimed at the sustainable management of water resources in Turkmenistan.
- With 1 in each velayat, a total of 5 pumping stations were reconstructed with the installation of modern pumps consuming 2.5 times less energy;
- 15-km gravity conduit was constructed in the Kaka etrap;
- solar power systems with a total capacity of 10 kW were installed in remote settlements in the Karakum desert.
The UNDP is further prepared to support comprehensive environmental cooperation in Turkmenistan aimed at studying and protecting the environment and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.
