From November 27 to December 6, a series of working meetings were held in Turkmenistan to discuss the challenges associated with climate change. These meetings are the first step in conducting an assessment of climate risks and vulnerabilities of water resources and agriculture at the city level of Ashgabat and Dashoguz velayat, taking into account the impact of climate change on particularly vulnerable groups, including women.

The events were organized by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) within the framework of the project “Development of the national adaptation planning process in Turkmenistan”, implemented with financial support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan.

Meetings were held with stakeholders in the water and agricultural sectors in Ashgabat and Dashoguz velayat with the participation of international experts from the Austrian company Hydrophil GmbH.

Local adaptation planning requires understanding current and projected climate hazards for vulnerable sectors. These two factors come together to assess risk and vulnerability. Assessment is also important for building the evidence base to strengthen adaptation planning in the water sector.

The assessment approach is based on the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) climate risk framework and ensures that the best science is applied.

In establishing the context using a participatory approach, consultations were held with representatives of government agencies, the private sector and civil society, including but not limited to the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Agriculture of Turkmenistan, the State Committee for Water Resources Management, the Hydrometeorological Service Turkmenistan, hyakimliks of Ashgabat and Dashoguz velayat, Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan, universities, banks, farmer associations.

In Dashoguz velayat, the project team and consultants also met with local livestock and crop farmers in Kone Urgench and Shabat etraps to gain insight into climate-related risks that farmers are concerned about and discuss ways to address them.