UNICEF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment Protection of Turkmenistan, convened a round table on the development of Turkmenistan’s third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) with a special focus on children and youth. The event brought together representatives of key government ministries and institutions, civil society organizations, and UNICEF international experts who joined online.

Children and youth (0–24 years age group) account for 3.2 million people, or 45 per cent, of Turkmenistan’s population. While young people are growing up in a world facing increasing climate threats, they also have a long-term vested interest in the planet's future, and a direct stake in achieving sustainable outcomes. The young generation will live with the consequences of current climate policies, and therefore, their voice and perspectives are indispensable in shaping the ambition of the next NDCs 3.0.

Discussions during the roundtable focused on the impact of climate change on children and youth in Turkmenistan, approaches to integrating their needs into NDC 3.0, and proposals for priority measures in areas such as climate change education, energy efficiency in schools and kindergartens, environmental health, WASH, nutrition and social protection. UNICEF experts also shared costing methodologies for assessing financial needs and identifying potential funding sources to support the implementation of proposed measures.

“The voices and needs of children and young people must be at the center of climate policies,” said Alexandru Nartea, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Turkmenistan. “By integrating child- and youth-sensitive priorities in Turkmenistan’s NDC 3.0, we not only protect their future, but also empower them to be active contributors to sustainable development.”

The event underlined the importance of intersectoral cooperation and whole-of-society engagement in shaping a climate-resilient future. It provided a platform for participants from the ministries of environment, finance and economy, education, health, labour and social protection, energy, and construction, as well as youth organizations, to contribute to the development of NDC 3.0.

This initiative is part of UNICEF’s broader commitment to support Turkmenistan in addressing climate change while ensuring that children and youth have the right to a sustainable future and are key agents of change. UNICEF is committed to working alongside its partners to integrate child-sensitive approaches into national climate strategies and supporting young people to take an active role in climate action. A policy brief with recommendations on integrating children and youth into NDC 3.0 is available here.