Experts discussed the “NDC Implementation Plan on Adaptation in Energy and Water Sectors sectors”
As the risks caused by climate change increase globally, so does the importance of measures that countries are taking within the framework of the Paris agreement. Kyrgyzstan is vulnerable to climate crises, therefore adaptation and mitigation are very important.
In order to take into account the proposals and recommendations for inclusion in the NDC Implementation Plan, round tables and thematic meetings are currently being held with the invitation of all stakeholders.
On 29 June 2023, experts and specialists in the field of energy and water issues, academicians, scientists, civil society, environmentalists, representatives of relevant state bodies discussed the “Plan of implementation of NDC on adaptation in the sectors of “Energy” and “Water Resources” at the Institute of Water Problems and Hydropower of NAS KR.
Chontoev Dogdurbek, Ph.D., Director of the Institute of Water Problems and Hydropower of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, stressed in his speech that there is no single centre for water administration and control in the form of a single authorised body, which affects the quality of decisions on urgent water problems at the national and regional levels.
UNDP Programme Coordinator, Baktygul Ysabekova, provided information on the second phase of the Climate Pledge, highlighted the importance of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the Long Term Strategy for Carbon Neutrality 2050 (LTSCN) and concluded that UNDP continues to expand its support to countries in implementing NDCs, which includes support to Kyrgyzstan.
Edilbek Bogombayev, an expert in the energy sector, started the panel discussion on the Energy Sector and gave a detailed presentation on NDC implementation plan for the energy sector, climate hazards affecting the sector and identified adaptation measures.
Also, Eleonora Kazakova, Head of the Association of RES of the Kyrgyz Republic and Azhar Baisalova, Project Manager, Move Green, spoke in the Energy sector.
In her presentation Eleonora Kazakova, President of the Association emphasised “that our country has a huge potential of renewable energy sources (RES), which is estimated at 840.2 million tce per year. And in Kyrgyzstan there are main types of RES and these are energy of small rivers and watercourses, solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy and geothermal energy. And the potential of small hydropower in the Kyrgyz Republic is about 5-8 billion kWh per year (up to 13% of the total potential). At present, it is possible to build 88 MGES with a capacity of up to 200 MW and 7 HPPs on reservoirs with a capacity of up to 75 MW. And the development of renewable energy can significantly reduce the consumption of water resources, as RES represent virtually zero greenhouse gas emissions with very low or negligible water demand for power generation.
Project Manager, environmental organisation Move Green, Azhar Baisalova, presented her vision on energy efficiency and energy saving in the private and residential sector and the importance of establishing an “Energy Efficiency Fund” in Bishkek on the example of the PES (Payment Ecosystem Services) concept.
The second panel discussion was opened by Alexander Temirbekov, consultant of the Aarhus Centre in Bishkek, and in his presentation he presented the adaptation objectives of the CD on adaptation of the Updated NDC in the “Water Resources” sector. In his presentation on the financial needs for NDC adaptation, he emphasised the need to involve external and internal financial resources in capacity building and climate resilience of the selected sectors.
The updated NDC Sectoral Adaptation Plan includes initial scientific research, on the basis of which government decisions will be made and national programmes will be implemented. It is already necessary to build scientific capacity in the country and create research parks and innovation platforms to study the effects of climate change,” said Maral Sagynalieva, researcher at Open Innovations.
In each panel discussion there were heated discussions on the topic, raised pressing problems and issues. The experts and speakers answered all the questions of the participants, recorded the wishes and suggestions on the selected topics.
“Water is a source of energy, energy is a source of economic prosperity. Water and energy are closely intertwined, especially in Kyrgyzstan, where more than 90 per cent of electricity is generated from hydro resources. Therefore, it is important to know how to use water properly both for energy as the main source of economic activity for all levels of entrepreneurs and for irrigation needs, which affects food security. Such discussions give an opportunity to discuss and improve all those measures and strategies that are necessary for the country” – emphasised Ilgiz Kambarov, Executive Director of the Green Alliance, and thanked the participants for their active position and commitment to solve water and energy issues.
This activity is being implemented with the support of the UNDP project “Providing advisory support for the development of the “Enhanced Implementation Plan for the NDC and the Long-term Low Carbon Development Strategy (LLCDS) to 2050”.
This process is coordinated by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic and supported under the UNDP global initiative “Climate Promise: Phase 2”.
