ISRS Director Outlines Priorities for International Climate Cooperation in New York
On September 23-24, at the Harvard Club of New York, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, the 37th High-Level Meeting of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center was held on the theme "Restoring Trust, Cooperation, and Global Stability for a Shared Future." Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISRS), took part in the event. The event served as a platform […]
ISRS Director Outlines Priorities for International Climate Cooperation in New York
On September 23-24, at the Harvard Club of New York, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, the 37th High-Level Meeting of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center was held on the theme "Restoring Trust, Cooperation, and Global Stability for a Shared Future." Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISRS), participated in the event.
The meeting platform served as a venue for exchanging views on international cooperation, sustainable development, climate and energy security, as well as the role of digital technologies in global governance.
Speaking at the session dedicated to climate cooperation amid global fragmentation, E. Aripov emphasized that against the backdrop of intensifying political division, climate change makes the interdependence of states even more evident.
In his assessment, climate challenges act not only as a source of risk but also as an important catalyst for regional cooperation. This is particularly evident in Central Asia, where water, food, and energy security are closely intertwined.
According to the data he presented, temperatures in Central Asia are rising twice as fast as the global average, and the area of glaciers has shrunk by approximately 30% over the past six decades. At the same time, glaciers provide nearly 90% of the region's water resources, feeding the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, upon which agriculture, energy, and the lives of millions of people depend.
Demographic and economic growth is increasing the demand for resources. According to forecasts, the population of Central Asia will reach 100 million people by 2050. The demand for water, food, and energy will continue to rise, while climate change makes their availability less predictable.
Speaking about ways to address these challenges, E. Aripov noted the importance of regional cooperation. He explained that while the UN sets general climate goals, achieving them requires taking into account the specific characteristics of each region. This is especially important because preserving river basins and glacier systems that span multiple states is impossible without coordinated action.
According to the ISRS Director, regional formats are particularly in demand where global dialogue is difficult. They allow for the maintenance of practical interaction and the resolution of shared tasks.
E. Aripov paid special attention to climate finance. He pointed out that international support is largely oriented toward individual countries and projects, even though climate risks affect several states at once.
In this context, the expert called for the development of financial instruments for joint projects aimed at preserving natural resources and adapting to climate change. Such an approach, according to him, would allow for the interests of all countries dependent on the state of a shared river basin to be taken into account.
The ISRS Director identified adaptation to climate change as one of the key priorities. According to him, for developing nations, alongside the long-term energy transition, it is crucial to address daily challenges: providing farmers with water, preparing the population for floods and droughts, and preserving people's sources of income.
In conclusion, E. Aripov emphasized that geopolitical differences must not paralyze international cooperation. Water resource management, environmental monitoring, and climate change adaptation must remain areas of sustained dialogue.
Among the distinguished participants were the sitting presidents of Latvia and Montenegro, as well as former presidents and prime ministers of Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Romania, Greece, and other states.
At the opening, welcoming remarks were delivered by the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Tatiana Molcean, and former Special Representative of the Chinese Government on European Affairs Wu Hongbo.