Statement of national position on climate change and environmental security, made by the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov at the 28^th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-28) in Dubai on December 1–2, 2023, was published and distributed on six official languages of the UN as an official document of the 78^th session of the UN General Assembly.

The statement was published under the agenda items of the current session of the General Assembly “Protection of the global climate in the interests of current and future generations of humanity” and “Zone of peace, trust and cooperation in Central Asia.”

The document, in particular, declares Turkmenistan’s accession to the Global Methane Commitment and the creation, jointly with UNEP, of a legal framework for the opening of the UN Regional Center for Climate Change Technologies in Central Asia in Turkmenistan.

In this regard, we will remind that, speaking at the 28^th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that Turkmenistan considers participation in this Conference as a milestone event in promoting its international strategy on climate change. The determining factor in it is to ensure continuity and consistency in the implementation of the initiatives put forward by our country, starting with the UN Conference on Sustainable Development RIO+20, subsequent major forums, and today’s efforts of Turkmenistan.

The National Climate Change Strategy adopted in 2012 is the starting point towards the full involvement of our state in the global climate agenda.

The next logical step was Turkmenistan’s accession to the Paris Climate Agreement. In 2019, in this regard, a new version of the National Climate Change Strategy was approved. The document is inclusive and includes an expanded list of measures to adapt almost all key sectors of the economy and social sphere to new requirements. Particular attention is paid to the fuel and energy complex, where a lot of work is being done to reduce emissions by increasing the volume of utilization of associated petroleum gas and reducing losses of natural gas during its transportation, said President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

As a responsible state, Turkmenistan recognizes the need to continue focused work at the international and national level to ensure further progress in the fight against climate change and its consequences. One of the most important aspects here is our country’s contribution to international efforts to reduce methane emissions.

As the President of Turkmenistan noted, at the 26^th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow, Turkmenistan expressed support for the new initiative on the Global Methane Commitment and expressed interest in a detailed study of the document and participation in its implementation.

Taking into account the recommendations of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and with the active support of the UN Development Program, our country prepared and in May 2022 approved the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of Turkmenistan to the Paris Climate Agreement. This strategic document provides to decline 20 percent gas emissions in greenhouse by 2030 relative to 2010 levels.

Having announced Turkmenistan’s accession to the Global Methane Commitment, the head of state emphasized that at the same time, our country will continue ongoing cooperation with international organizations and partner states within the framework of existing projects and programs aimed at fulfilling the conditions arising from the Global Methane Commitment.

In the context of broad international cooperation to solve climate problems in Central Asia, promoted by our country for many years, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted the importance of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) for development of regional programs aimed at transfer of climate technologies to Turkmenistan and Central Asian states on November 13, 2023.

The Turkmen side considers this document as the first step and a serious legal prerequisite for a substantive study of the issue of opening a UN Regional Center for Technologies related to Climate Change in Central Asia in our country. Thus, Turkmenistan’s initiative to create a specialized UN center for a region with a population of almost 80 million, possessing unique natural resources and biodiversity, and at the same time located in a zone of serious environmental risks, is now gaining real prospects.

As President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized, being fully committed to continuing multilateral cooperation within the framework of global climate initiatives, Turkmenistan welcomes the Declaration on Climate and Health, and considers it important to support it to confirm our common resolve and unity on health issues in the implementation of the Paris Agreement.