DUSHANBE, June 20, 2013, Asia-Plus -- Under the European Union funded Platform for Water and Environmental Cooperation, the Regional Training: “Climate Change and Mitigation of Natural Disaster Risks in Central Asia” was conducted in Tajikistan on June 18-19, 2013.

According to the European Delegation to Tajikistan, the purpose of the training was to acquaint people with the international experience in prevention and mitigation of the risks resulted from the climate change to carry out practical actions in Central Asia’s countries at national and local levels.

The training reportedly brought together more than 50 participants from the CA countries, including representatives of national, regional and international organizations working in the field of environmental protection, climate change and natural resources management.    

The Training included the following issues: impact of the climate change on agriculture, energy and other sectors of economy in the CA; risks to health resulting from natural disasters caused by the climate change and mechanisms for their minimization; and using the EC and other countries’ experience as well as technologies available to increase the sustainability of the agriculture, energy and environmental sector.

According to the Training participants, the climate change issues require corrections to be made into the existing strategies through implementation of green technologies, climate change consequences minimization and adaptation throughout all sectors of economy.  Climate change issues are intertwined with impact on health of the population, natural disasters risks and with the food, environmental and energy security concerns.

The main current issue is lack of practical actions.  The farmers, householders, small-size and medium-size businesses, local communities should be provided with a broad access to the climate change information, knowledge and effective and available technologies ensuring sustainable energy, water and food security.

The Regional Training was conducted a day before the scheduled meeting of the Interstate Commission for Sustainable Development of Central Asia established by the heads of the Central Asian states in 1993 to coordinate the activities improving social and economic as well as ecological conditions in the Aral Sea basin.