The closing workshop on “strengthening climate resilience of the water-energy-food-ecosystem nexus” took place on May 8-9 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. It sought to bring together key stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, and practitioners, to discuss the interrelated challenges of climate change, hydrology, and agriculture. It aimed to strengthen climate resilience and enhance human security in Turkmenistan and throughout Central Asia. The event was organized within the framework of the Green Central Asia initiative launched by the German Federal Foreign Office in partnership with UNDP Turkmenistan. Contributing partners included GIZ, GFZ and HYDROPHIL The collaborative effort allowed for valuable insights from a diverse group of engaged Turkmen civil servants with lively discussions, while also sharing expertise on climate impacts and their implications on local and regional dynamics with respect to the water-energy-food-environment nexus (WEFE).
As Turkmenistan is particularly vulnerable due to its arid climate, water scarcity and dependence on agriculture, the country can serve as a model for regional discussions and solutions on vulnerability assessments. The Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessments (CRVA) for Turkmenistan's water resources conducted under the UNDP/GCF project "Developing a National Adaptation Planning Process in Turkmenistan" will serve as a good example of possible actions to strengthen the evidence base for adaptation planning and become a solid foundation for the NAP process. Such national efforts brilliantly link up to further strengthen the regional efforts with respect to the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategy of Central Asia. We are grateful to all organizing and contributing partners for making this workshop a true collaborative success.
