Bishkek, April 4, 2025. /Kabar/. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov took part in the international forum "Central Asia in the Face of Global Climate Threats: Solidarity for Common Prosperity", held in Samarkand on April 4.
The presidential press service reported that in his speech the head of state emphasized that in recent years the problem of climate change has been increasingly raised, including from the high rostrum of the UN and at the annual summits of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
"All participants declare problems and sound the alarm, but the situation does not change dramatically. Developed countries, including the European Union, are among the main donors of climate financing. However, the allocated funds do not meet the expectations of developing countries. The results of the COP29 Conference in Baku clearly demonstrated this," said Sadyr Zhaparov.
In this context, he emphasized that states allocate billions and trillions of dollars in funding for wars and conflicts, while incomparably smaller amounts are allocated for combating climate change and protecting the environment.
At the same time, the head of state noted that the process and mechanism for obtaining climate financing remains complex. Financial resources are not concentrated and are distributed through a large number of different funds and banking structures.
In order to distribute them effectively and fairly, Sadyr Zhaparov proposed the following:
To direct climate financing primarily to meet the needs and priorities of the most vulnerable developing countries that lack their own resources, technologies and finances to mitigate the effects of climate change, adapt to them and ensure a green transition;
When considering global climate initiatives, take into account not only the interests of small island states and least developed countries, but also mountainous developing countries, which are also extremely vulnerable to climate change;
To strengthen the participation of European partners in supporting Central Asian countries, both in terms of climate financing and in the implementation of advanced technologies;
To support Kyrgyzstan's initiative to swap external debt for projects aimed at climate and sustainable development, which the European Union has already joined.
The head of state noted that last year the Kyrgyz Republic faced a sharp increase in the number of landslides, which led to significant damage to infrastructure, deaths and displacement of people.
"In addition, we are seeing intensive melting of glaciers and a reduction in the area of their glaciation, low water levels, drought and desertification. Their number and scale are increasing every year. Over the past 70 years, the area of glaciers in Kyrgyzstan has decreased by 16%, and by 2100 we may lose more than half of their volume," said Sadyr Zhaparov and emphasized that, given these problems, the Kyrgyz Republic is committed to an active program of action to combat climate change. "In accordance with nationally determined contributions, we plan to reduce emissions by 16% by 2030 under the "business as usual" scenario, and by 44% with international support.
We plan to achieve carbon neutrality through the development of renewable energy sources, increased energy efficiency, reduced coal consumption through gasification, reduced losses in the transmission and distribution of electricity, and improved heating systems in cities," the president said.
In this context, he noted the projects being implemented in the field of renewable energy sources.
"Over the past four years, 18 small hydropower plants have been commissioned in Kyrgyzstan.
Together with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the Kambarata HPP-1 construction project has begun.
In addition, the country is implementing the national Zhashyl Muras program to increase forest areas, aimed at increasing our potential to absorb greenhouse gas emissions. According to the program, up to 8 million green spaces are planted annually,” Sadyr Zhaparov emphasized.
The head of state expressed gratitude to international partners for the adoption by the UN General Assembly, at the initiative of Kyrgyzstan, of the resolution “Sustainable Mountain Development,” according to which 2023–2027 were declared the Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions.
A number of key events are planned to be held within the framework of the “Mountain Five Years”:
On April 24–25, 2025, Kyrgyzstan will host the international conference “Global Mountain Dialogue for Sustainable Development”;
in 2026 — a pre-summit in New York;
in 2027 — the Second Global Mountain Summit “Bishkek+25,” which will
in 2027 — the Second Global Mountain Summit “Bishkek+25”, which will sum up the results and determine further steps to preserve mountain ecosystems.
In conclusion, President Sadyr Zhaparov called for active participation in these events, emphasizing that promoting the interests of developing mountain countries is in line with one of the key principles of the UN — “Leave no one behind.”