3.3. Development of capacity and confidence

The UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Turkmenistan is involved in water and energy co-operation, assisting with early warning information bulletins on water security, supporting conferences on glaciers and water resources.

In Tajikistan a network of Aarhus Centres supported by OSCE is dealing with environmental information and knowledge dissemination, including co-operation with Afghanistan. In Turkmenistan, the Tebigy Kuwwat NGO promotes the Aarhus Convention principles and works with the local population and civil society groups.

A training centre for Afghan students in Termez, Uzbekistan, could expand its curriculums to include themes on the environment, water and energy.

On the initiative of Tajikistan, the year 2025 has been declared by the UN as the “International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation”. On this occasion countries can organize joint expeditions in the Amu Darya to assess glaciers, design regional approaches to climate action and disseminate knowledge.

Environment:

• Environmental information: co-operation between the Aarhus Centres, national and local authorities on environmental data, assessments and public awareness of environmental issues;

• Strategic environmental assessments and co-operation in environmental impact assessments (EIAs) for regional and transboundary socio-economic projects;

• Regular exchange of information (environmental, hydrometeorological, climate, disasters) between the relevant government agencies of the countries;

• Preparation of easily understandable and visual modern environmental information at the local level (provinces or river basins) for the public and authorities;

• Scientific and public actions in support of governmental policies and goals: expeditions and monitoring, national red list update, information campaigns on nature conservation, actions on climate change response, pollution and waste reduction, use of clean fuels and energy.

Confidence-building:

• Promote collaboration between border security authorities, hydrological and environmental services in planning expeditions along or near the Panj and Amu Darya rivers;

• Working with women’s groups, entrepreneurs and mahallas to address social cohesion and engagement, including environmental actions on tree planting, clean-up of waste from community areas and water sources;

• Regional forums on diplomacy, positive media coverage of issues and co-operation with Afghanistan;

• Support for Afghan youth and students in Central Asia, particularly in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, through educational and information materials and scholarships.