A meeting took place in Antalya between the Minister of Education of Turkmenistan, Jumamyrat Gurbangeldyyev, and the Rector of the Central Asian University for Environmental Studies and Climate Change (Green University, Republic of Uzbekistan), Professor Bakhtiyor Pulatov.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), according to the website of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan.

The parties discussed prospects for developing cooperation in the fields of environmental education, training specialists for the green economy, conducting joint scientific research, and implementing modern educational technologies aimed at fostering sustainable development.

The particular relevance of Turkmenistan’s new international initiatives for COP31 was highlighted, including the establishment of the Ashgabat Climate Dialogue, the development of a Digital Atlas of Climate Change, and the formation of a global partnership for the provision of climate technologies. The importance of the Regional Center for Climate Change-Related Technologies in Central Asia, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2027, was also highlighted. The implementation of these initiatives creates additional opportunities for scientific and educational cooperation among the states of the region.

Turkmenistan’s accession to the Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action was specifically noted. This step reflects the country’s consistent efforts to strengthen the role of education and youth in addressing global climate challenges.

The parties explored the possibilities for organizing joint educational programs, academic exchanges, professional development for faculty, conducting applied research, and implementing joint projects involving higher education institutions in Turkmenistan.

Among the promising areas identified were water resource management, combating desertification, monitoring climate change, the use of geoinformation technologies, and the training of specialists for the environmentally sustainable development of the economy.

Following the meeting, a mutual interest in further strengthening cooperation was expressed.