Turkmenistan: Climate Facts and Policy

T U R K M E N I S TA N CLIMATE FACTS AND POLICY 66 MILLION tCO2e 12 TONNES PER CAPITA

POLICIES AND PROCESSES Turkmenistan 2030 socioeconomic transformation strategy National climate change strategy (2012) National plan to reduce greenhouse gases (under preparation) National plan on adaptation (under preparation) Enhanced energy efficiency and resource savings in all key sectors Technological modernization Renewable energy systems in remote and sparsely populated areas Increased share of renewables in the energy mix Plans for a green economy

2030 targets and INDC

Mitigation Energy sector priority Continued promotion of new technologies Base year: 2000 Unconditional 2030 target: growth rate of GHG emissions less than GDP growth rate; reduction of carbon- and energy-intensities of GDP; increase in emissions to the projected level of 135.8 million tonnes and stabilization trajectory Conditional 2030 target: zero growth in emissions, and possible reduction trajectory

5.4

6 948 US $

MILLION POPULATION

100%

PER CAPITA GDP

OF TOTAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION FROM FOSSIL FUELS

Sources: 2010 national GHG inventory data submitted to UNFCCC; latest population, energy and economic data from the World Development Indicators of the World Bank http://data.worldbank.org/indicator

Adaptation priorities Water, health, agriculture, land management Development of forest shelter belts to protect soils and infrastructure Construction of the “Golden Age” lake to support water sector adaptation

GHG inventory and projections

Third national communication to UNFCCC (2016), covering 2000-2010 Second national communication to UNFCCC (2010), covering 1990-2004 No advanced MRV and GHG emissions modelling systems established yet

CLIMATE ACTIONS Paris Agreement on Climate Change

Turkmenistan ratified the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in October 2016

Reducing emissions intensity of GDP

Carbon intensity of GDP reduced by 53 per cent in 2012 compared to 2000 Energy intensity of GDP reduced by 57 per cent in 2012 compared to 2000

Regional actions

Proposed host for a regional climate change technology centre Hosts the Scientific Information Centre of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development of Central Asia

CLIMATE FINANCE European Union

Sustainable development policies in energy-environment sectors

Adaptation Fund – UNDP

Addressing climate change risks to farming systems at the national and local levels

UNDP-GEF projects

Energy efficiency and renewable energy for sustainable water management

K K

Moynoq

A A

Z Z

A A

K K

H H

KAZAKHSTAN KAZAKHSTAN

Sarygamysh Lake Sarygamysh Lake

Dashoguz

a nS e Sa e C a C s ap s i pa i n a

(planned)

Serdar K ara k Serdar K um C

Urganch

U Z B E K I S T A N U Z B E K I S T A N

Urganch

Tashkent Tashkent Khujand

Jizzax

Kerkichi

Denov Qurghonteppa

Kerkichi

TermizQurghonteppa

D

0 produced by ZOÏ 100 km Map Environment Network, November 2015

ar y a

Mary Mary

Khujand

Jizzax

u D A mu

Mashad

Am

N N

Turkmenabat

Aydar Lake Zaravs han Zaravs han Samarkand

Panjakent Samarkand Bukhara Qarshi Shahrisabz Panjakent Dushanbe Qarshi Shahrisabz Dushanbe ar y Denov a

Yoltan

Termiz

Yoltan Hindukush

Sheberghan

Hindukush

ab rghab Murgh Mu

100 km

A A

BukharaNavoiy Turkmenabat

en Tejen Tej

Mashad

R R

Navoiy

T U R K M E N I S T A N T U R K M E N I S T A N

Regional centre on climate technologies (proposed) ara ana kum l Regional centre on climate technologies Ca (proposed) nal Ashgabat Atr ek Ashgabat Gonbad-e Kavus Atrek Mini solar stations Tejen (demonstration) Gonbad-e Kavus Bojnurd Mini solar stations Gorgan Tejen Bojnurd (demonstration)

I I

Shymken

Uchquduq

Balkanabat (planned) Balkanabat

Shymken

Aydar Lake

Gorgan

0

Uchquduq

Golden Age Lake Golden Age Lake

Turkmenbashi

Turkestan

KAZAKHSTAN KAZAKHSTAN

Sheberghan

Meymaneh

BalkhaBbalkhab

Karabogazgol

Dashoguz

N N

a

Nukus Karabogazgol

A A

Turkestan

a

Nukus

Turkmenbashi

T T

ry ry Da r Da S yr S y

Moynoq

S S

Kulob Kulob

Kunduz

Mazar-e Sharif Mazar-e Sharif

A Meymaneh

Serhetabat

F G H A N I S T A N A F G H A N I S T A N

Serhetabat

Energy and emissions Fossil fuel energy installations and carbon emissions

Renewable energy installations and plans

Fossil fuel energy installations and carbon emissions

Renewable energy installations and plans

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, November 2015

CO2 emissions from thermal power plants, million tons per year: CO2 emissions from thermal power plants, million tons per year: more than 5 Thermal power-plant (coal/oil/gas) more than 5 Thermal power-plant (coal/oil/gas) 2-5 12 -- 25 0.5 - 1 1 - 2than 0.5 less 0.5 - 1 less than 0.5

Wind farms

Solar power stations

Hydropower stations

Wind farms

Solar power stations

Hydropower stations

Less than 50 MW Less than 50 MW

Policies and institutions The interest in climate change extends to the highest level of government: the President of Turkmenistan has proposed a regional climate change technology centre, which Turkmenistan is ready to host. The 2012 national climate change strategy calls for measures on enhancing energy efficiency in all key sectors of the economy, for technological modernization and for the introduction of renewable energy systems in remote and sparsely populated areas. The strategy also seeks to increase the share of renewables in the energy mix and to develop economic incentives. National action plans for mitigation and adaptation based on the 2012 strategy are being developed, and will be incorporated into the broader plans for a green economy.

The Committee for Environmental Protection and Land Resources, successor of the former Ministry of Nature Protection since 2016, develops official climate policy positions in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cabinet of Ministers. The Ministry for the Economy adopts

budgets, sets standards and manages relations with donors.

The inter-agency group of experts under the Committee for Environmental Protection and Land Resources coordinates activities of all concerned ministries with regard to climate policy development and implementation.

Energy prices, especially for natural gas, remain subsidized and low because of long-standing domestic socioeconomic policies and social support packages. Abundant natural gas reserves and rapidly growing power production capacities using natural gas make renewable energy such as solar and wind a distant prospect: less than 1 per cent of these renewables is projected for the country’s energy mix by 2030. In spite of low energy prices, the country’s leadership is interested in improving energy efficiency and in adopting new technologies. In the transport sector, for example, only modern and fuel-efficient cars may be imported, and in the water sector the energy efficiency of pumps will be improved.

Kunduz

Moynoq

A

Z

A

K

H

S

K

A

Z

A

K

H

S S yr

KAZAKHSTAN

K

S yr

Da

ry

Balkanabat

Dashoguz

Urganch Urganch

Serdar

TKara U R K M E N I S T A N kum

Navoiy

ek

Ka rak u

AtrBojnurd ek

Ashgabat Ashgabat

Turkmenabat Mary

Tejen

Mary

R

A

N

I R A Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, November 2015

N

100 km

Tejen

I

Serhetabat

Impacts of climate change Rivers with intense water use and increased stress from Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, November 2015

Jizzax

Qurghonteppa

Sheberghan

Termiz Mazar-e Sharif Mazar-e Sharif

Meymaneh Serhetabat

A F G H A N I S T A N

Densely populated and agriculturally important areas with increased environmental stress and projected impacts of climate change

Rivers intense use surges and increased from Risk ofwith flooding duewater to storm and seastress level fluctuations climatic and hydrological changes

Densely populated and and agriculturally with increased Increased heat stress impacts important on humanareas health environmental stress and projected impacts of climate change

Risk of flooding due to storm surges and sea level fluctuations

Increased heat stress and impacts on human health

Turkmenistan scorecard Country’s emissions per capita General climate action ambition

Mitigation commitment: Emissions reduction Decoupling from population growth Decoupling from economic growth Renewable energy prospects

Adaptation action

Khujand

National climate policy actors Policy leadership: President, Cabinet of Ministers and Committee for Environmental Protection and Land Resources UNFCCC focal point: Committee for Environmental Protection and Land Resources GHG inventory and projections: project-based team in the Committee for Environmental Protection and Land Resources GCF focal point: Committee for Environmental Protection and Land Resources

Kulob Kulob Kunduz Kunduz

A F G H A N I S T A N

climatic and hydrological changes

Country’s share of global emissions

Khujand

Panjakent

DenovQurghonteppa Termiz

Kerkichi

Meymaneh

Mashad

100 km

Kerkichi

Sheberghan

ab Murgh

Mashad

ar y a

ab Murgh

Tejen

Tejen

Gorgan

Zaravs han

Jizzax

Bukhara Qarshi SamarkandShahrisabz Dushanbe Panjakent ar y Denov a Qarshi Shahrisabz Dushanbe

uD

Ca nal

Am

Gonbad-e Kavus

m

Turkmenabat

Zaravs han Lake Aydar

uD

Atr

Ca nal

Navoiy

Shymken

Tashkent

Aydar Lake

Samarkand

Bukhara

Shymken

Tashkent

U Z B E K I S T A N

Am

Serdar

Bojnurd

0

U Z B E K I S T A N

Golden Age Lake

GorganGonbad-e Kavus

0

Uchquduq

T U R K M E N I S T A N Balkanabat

KAZAKHSTAN

Balkhab

S e a S e a C a s pC ia as np i a n

Turkmenbashi

Nukus Dashoguz

Uchquduq

Balkhab

Golden Age Lake

Turkmenbashi

N

ry

Sarygamysh Lake

Karabogazgol

A

a

Amu Darya delta Sarygamysh Lake

T

Turkestan

K A Z A K H S Turkestan TAN

Nukus

Karabogazgol

N

a

Amu Darya delta

KAZAKHSTAN

A

Da

Moynoq

T

Greenhouse gas emissions and projections for Turkmenistan Million tonnes 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40

20 10 0 1994 Energy

Industrial processes

2000 Agriculture

2002 Waste

2004

2006

2008

Land use change and forestry

2010 All sectors

Projections 2020 2030 Lower range

Higher range

Projections are based on Turkmenistan’s INDC

© Zoi Environment Network (2016)

30

Climate actions

Climate finance

Turkmenistan’s emissions profile is similar to other energy-rich countries, especially those rich in natural gas, and methane constitutes about 40 per cent of total GHG emissions. Energyrelated GHG emissions contribute an estimated 56 million tonnes of CO2e per year or 85 per cent of the total.

Most of the funding on climate actions in Turkmenistan comes from the state budget. Some funds come from GEF and the Adaptation Fund and cover activities on drought-risk management, adaptation technologies for reliable drinking water supply, animal husbandry, efficient irrigation systems and energy efficiency in water supply systems. GEF funding for low-carbon urban development in the cities of Ashgabat and Awaza is in its the final stage for approval. The EU provides support for the introduction of sustainable development policies and and for the rational use of natural resources in the energy and environment sectors in Turkmenistan.

The majority of Turkmenistan forests are sparse desert saxaul with limited carbon sequestration potential, but with significant climate resiliency functions for protecting people and infrastructure from weather extremes, providing valuable shelter for biodiversity and serving as grazing grounds for agricultural animals.

A team within the Committee for Environmental Protection and Land Resources compiles Turkmenistan’s GHG emissions inventory, primarily as a project-based GEF activity, normally supported via UNEP. Much of the statistical data in Turkmenistan is restricted, and keeping the GHG inventory and other climate change information easily available domestically can be a challenge even though the information is published on websites of international organizations.

The EU sustainable development project focuses on natural resources management and the energy sector. One component supports policy design for energy efficiency and renewable energy sources at the national and provincial levels. As part of this component, strategic environmental assessment, environmental impact assessment and air quality regulations and legal instruments will be reviewed and possibly revised in line with modern approaches.

In October 2016 Turkmenistan ratified the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. In its INDC, Turkmenistan maintains that the stabilization of GHG emissions or the beginning of reductions by 2030 will allow the country to pursue low-carbon development.

Sources of information for the scorecard Turkmenistan’s strategies and legislation National climate-related assessments and reports: Third national communication to UNFCCC (2016); INDC (2015) Zoï expertise and interviews with stakeholders in Turkmenistan This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.

The designations employed and the presentation do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or region or of its authorities, or concerning delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.