Ecological diplomacy – the main priority of foreign policy of Turkmenistan

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed number of Resolutions aimed at activation of work of relative ministries and departments of the country for fulfilment of important objectives in natural protection sphere and expansion of cooperation with competent international organizations in this direction.

As is known, ecological component, which is directly related to major reform programmes, is one of priority directions of the government policy of the President of Turkmenistan.

Big work is carried out in the country in natural protection sphere and rational use of nature, planting of trees and shrubs, profile legislation is systematically improved in the country. Etalon parts of Turkmen nature are carefully protected in the State natural reserves.

Holding active position in regional and international cooperation in this sphere and having ratified fundamental nature preservation agreements of the UN, Turkmenistan led by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov demonstrates in practice its serious and responsible approach to solution of current ecological issues and fulfilment of undertaken obligations.

At the same time, integrated activity is carried out in the country in the sphere of rational water management and energy efficiency, combating of desertification and soil degradation, which is also very important in the context of steadfast development of water management and agricultural complex based on implementation of advanced technologies and realization of significant potential of national agricultural complex. Special attention is paid to stable development of cities and settlements in modern realities.

As it was mentioned above, signing of number of relative documents according to the Resolutions of head of the State Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov will support successful solution of set objectives and strengthening of fruitful cooperation with foreign partners in these directions.

It includes the Protocol on amendments of the Project Agreement of joint execution of the Central Asian Desert Initiative Project between the Ministry of Agriuclture and Natural Protection of our country and Michael Zukkov Natural Preservation Fund (Germany).

The project, which was started in 2019, is carried out together with personnel of Bereketly Garagum State Natural Reserve and Repetek State Biosphere Reserve, local and international scientists and experts.

The goals of the project are to protect biodiversity of deserts of Turkmenistan, to develop scientific and technical specification for nomination of desert ecosystems, which are characterized with special climate conditions and unique flora and fauna, to the UNESCO World Heritage List, to conduct joint field studies, to train personnel of the reserves and other.

The Karakum Desert with its grandiose spaces and wonderful landscapes is the brightest natural attraction of our country.

Paying utmost attention to ecological situation in Karakum Desert, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov notes importance of protection of rich flora and fauna of the desert, further study of its unique ecosystem, stimulation of cooperation with competent international organizations and structures, in particularly by realization of joint projects.

Combating desertification, rational water and land management, rehabilitation of salinized and degraded soils, application of innovative technologies in agricultural production are among important aspects.

Signing of the Working Plan for 2020 on the project of Provision of social and economic stability of the population engaged in agriculture in dry regions of Turkmenistan between the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Protection of our country with the UN Development Programme according to the Resolution of Head of the State Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov is aimed at solution of objectives in this direction.

This projects is aimed at introduction of measures for adaptation to the climate change in the strategy of development of agricultural complex and water management, strengthening of national potential in this field, support of activities for increment of output of profile production and improvement of agricultural infrastructure on sites, minimization of natural risks in agricultural complex.

Under the project, it is planned to organize online consultations on various aspects of agricultural production with attraction of foreign specialists. The experience received during practical realization of the project will be proposed for further dissemination.

In this context, it is worth to mention that cooperating with the United Nations and its specialized structures in ecological sphere, our country takes an active part in development of balanced measures on the climate changes.

For example, Turkmenistan is one of the first state members of the UN, which adopted National Strategy on climate change, which provided staged transfer of all main spheres of production activity to ecological safety parameters. Last year, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov approved new edition of National Strategy, having launched another stage of work carried out in the country for planning and response to climate impacts.

Being in the mainstream of global processes consolidating international efforts in solution of actual modern problems, Turkmenistan approach its contribution to common affair with full responsibility.

This is indicated by number of specific initiatives proposed by the Head of the State including of opening of Regional Centre of technologies related to the climate change in Central Asia in Ashgabat, on development of the UN Water Strategy and other proposals, which currency is proven by time itself.

Signing of the Working Plan for 2020 on the project of Stable development of cities in Turkmenistan: Integrated development of green cities in Ashgabat and Avaza between the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Protection of our country and the UNDP according to the Resolution of the Head of the state is aimed at active implementation of advanced practices in urban management.

This project is to support the solution of objectives in such spheres as improvement of energy efficiency, stable transport, wide implementation of green technologies including in construction, eco-tourism as well as waste management, their processing and use of recycled materials. It provides its importance in the context of provision of ecological wealth and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in Turkmenistan.

Therefore, this project and urban construction and ecological strategies, which are under implementation in the country by initiative of the President of Turkmenistan, make basis for successful fulfilment of the SDG No.11 – Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Signing of relevant Working Plan for current year according to the Resolution of the Head of the state is to support steadfast implementation of joint projects of the State Water Management Committee of Turkmenistan and the UN Development Programme on Effective use of energy and renewable sources of energy for stable water management in Turkmenistan.

The goal of the project is to promote integrated approach to the management of water resources, introduction of energy efficient and water saving technologies, to improve life level and quality of the population on sites.

The projects is aimed at provision of sufficient and ecologically stable water provision, prevention of soil degradation, reduction of emission of greenhouse gases related to the management of water resources by use of renewable sources of energy.

Use of energy efficient pump equipment for soil reclamation systems allowing reducing consumption of energy, which provides economic and ecological appropriatness of its application in irrigative farming and during irrigation of plantations is one of the segments of this project.

At present time, development of innovative and ecologically safe technologies based on use of renewable sources of energy is provided among priority objectives given by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to national scientists.

In addition to ecological purity, similar technologies have another significant advantage – long period of work, which is provided by almost unlimited natural reserves. At the same time, their wide implementation will serve to solution of such global problem of the presence as the climae change.

Therefore, Resolutions signed by the President of Turkmenistan aimed at successful realization of number of joint projects are to support the implementation of integrated reforms in our country, strengthening and expansion of constructive international cooperation in different spheres and achievement of the Sustainable development goals.

Therefore, interrelation between the economy and ecology receives defining importance. This concept places reasonable methods of management, scientific organization of production and use of advanced technologies allowing avoiding unfavourable ecological impact opposite to common thesis about imminence of negative impact of industrial development on environment.

Achievability of this is indicated by stable ecological situation in Turkmenistan despite rapid industrial development in the country. Interrelation between well-thought activities according to the policy of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in environment protection and level of agricultural and food production.

Turkmenistan also complies with all undertaken international obligations. The country registers greenhouse gases, climate changes and carries out other studies.

Intensification of scientific and technical potential of the country including major modernization of fuel and energy complex facilities, transport, construction and chemical industry, municipal services supports to reduction of negative impact of manmade environmental impact.

Modern improved from ecological point of view technologies are gradually implemented in the branches of the economy as well as measures for improvement of efficiency of control of atmosphere and environmental condition in general, improvement of the system of ecological standards and requirements for factories, plants, facilities, living and civil constructions are improved.

The meaning of ecological policy of head of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov is that its efficiency lies within the change of economic system in such way that production sphere would not be the opponent of the nature but its ally and support.

On another hand, systematic ecological events in the country become new factor of growth of national economy, the basis for transit of entire national economy to fundamentally new model of nature management.

However, ecological policy of Turkmenistan is not limited by technocratic approach but also absorbs harmonization of society, its spiritual and moral education and responsible treatment of nature.

Approving ecological diplomacy as one of the main priorities of foreign policy of Turkmenistan, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focuses on importance of humanisation and ecologization of the system of international relations.