Financing and Investment for Environmental Goals in Central Asia

The Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in collaboration in Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), EBRD and the OECD gathered high-level representatives from Central Asian governments, International Financial Institutions, Non-Governmental Organisations and academia for a dialogue to accelerate mobilisation of finance for areas exposed to climate risks in Central Asia.  The Policy Dialogue also focused on key challenges to improve the financial attractiveness of underfunded environmental activities such as water, energy and land-use security. The discussions covered the benefits and opportunities for enhanced coordination at the regional and national levels.

The event provided an opportunity to launch the “Central Asia Nature Partnership,” a newly established fund managed by EBRD that aims to increase ambition in environmental investment and nature-positive business strategies by creating demonstration projects that can be replicated to achieve widespread action to reduce nature loss, increase biodiversity, and enhance climate resilience in Central Asia.

Session 3: Biodiversity challenges in Central Asia and priorities for financial support - statements from heads of delegations

• Turkmenistan presentation (in RUS)

Session 5: Launch of EBRD’s Central Asia Nature Partnership – opportunities for engagement

• EBRD presentation 

Session 7: Biodiversity protection and the role of nature-based solutions

• The potential of NbS to mitigate water-related risks and protect biodiversity - Mr James Dalton, Global Director for Water Programme, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• Drivers of biodiversity loss in Central Asia (EN/RUS) - Mr Takayoshi Kato, Programme Lead, the Water, Energy, Land-use Nexus in Central Asia, OECD
• Findings from UNDP BIOFIN and the Biodiversity Finance Plan for Uzbekistan - Mr Tulkin Radjabov, BIOFIN Project Manager, United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
• Findings from GIZ Climate Risk Management Programme in Central Asia - Mr Sergey Makarov, Programme Director, Climate Risk Management in Central Asia, GIZ

Session 9: Financing initiatives supporting the Nexus approach in Central Asia 

• EBRD approach to nature finance and Nexus investment in agribusiness - Mr Konstantin Kostikov, Senior Banker, EBRD
• Emerging insights from the Water, Energy, Land-use Nexus programme in Central Asia  (EN/RUS) - Mr Takayoshi Kato, OECD
• Bridging science and policy for providing technical expertise for water-related investment projects - Ms Dinara Ziganshina, Director, Scientific Information Centre of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (SIC ICWC)
• Renewable integration and energy connectivity in Central Asia - Ms Anna Piwowarska, Economic Affairs Officer, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)