National Climate Adaption Activities in Tajikistan

1. National Climate Adaption Activitiesin Tajikistan KhakdodovM.M. Regional Environmental Governance and Climate ChangeWorkshop «EC – Central Asia» 10-11 April2014, Brussels, Belgium

2. How Climate Changes in Tajikistan • Developing countries, in particular, the least developed countries, are most vulnerable to climate change. • As all the other countries of the world, Tajikistan is facing the negative consequences of climate change such as depletion of glaciers, lower river flow, more frequent draughts, natural calamities. • Tajikistan is the lowest carbon generator ranking 159 country in the world and it is the most climate change vulnerable CA country, with the least climate change adaptation capacity. • This is due to the fact that agriculture depends a lot on precipitation during the irrigation period. Other contributors include high levels of the environment degradation, land erosion, high rate of deforestation, and destruction of social infrastructure.

3. Sectoral Impacts of Climate Change • Natural ecosystems; • Depletion of glaciers; • Water Resources; • Energy; • Soil, pastures and forest resources; • Agriculture; • Public health; • Natural disasters.

4. Деградация оледенения Impact assessment showed that throughout the entire period of instrumentation observations (from the 1930s), the Tajikistan glacier cover reduced by about 30% The 2006 glacier survey showed that on average glaciers deplete by 16 m/y. Overall, throughout the entire observation period (1933-2006), Fedchenko Glacier shrunk by 1 km and lost over 15 km3 (or 1/10) of its mass.

5. Water Resources • Increased annual fluctuations of river discharge with a downward trend for reduced surface flow; • Annual river discharge reduction is 0.11 km3/y. • Glacier depletion is expected to: - reduce the glacier feed of the rivers by 20-40%; - reduce the total river discharge by over 7%; • The total annual river discharge as formed within the Republic reduced from 57.1 km3/y to53.2 km3/y.

6. Energy • The forecasted climate change resulting in reduced river flow and increased risks of floods and earth slides will have adverse impacts for the hydro energy sector. It will require upgrade and different operational patterns of the hydropower stations, construction of protection facilities, etc.

7. Natural Disasters • There are risks of glacier lakes breakthrough, more floods and mud slides. • Droughts are one of the most severe meteorological hazards resulting in substantial physical damage • In the last60 eight draughts covered the entire country with 1971, 2000, 2001 and2007 witnessing severe draughts

8. Climate Change Policy and Actionin Tajikistan «Tajikistan supports the main provisions of the new climate agreement, aimed at limiting and reducing carbon fuel consumption, expanding the use of renewable energy sources, restoring forests and improving land management». Speech by EMOMALY RAKHMONOV, Tajikistan President, at the 15-th Conferences of Parties to the UNFCCC, Copenhagen, Denmark,17 December 2009

9. Climate Change Policy and Actionin Tajikistan 1.Ratification of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change(1998). 2.First National Communication on Climate Change(2002). 3.National Climate Change Mitigation Action Plan of the Republic of Tajikistan (2003). 4.Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol(2008). 5.Second First National Communication on Climate Change (2008). 6. 2011 saw the preparation of the 3-d First National Communication on Climate Change. 7.Participation in the Pilot Program of Climate Change Response («PPCR»)

10. Legal and Institutional Framework • Legal and institutional framework established as a basis for climate change response action; • The State Hydrometeorological Office of the Environment Protection Committee with the Government of Republic of Tajikistan coordinates climate change action in Tajikistan • Climate Change Study Center established mandated with the implementation of the corresponding projects, planning of coordinated policy and participation in international climate change negotiations.

11. Adaptation Measures 1. Incorporating adaptation to climate change into policies and strategies • National Development Strategy for 2005-2015 • Strategy for Improving Wellbeing of Tajikistan Population towards2013-2015; • Sectoral Programs and Projects.

12. Adaptation Measures 2. Implementation of Pilot Program of Climate Change Response («PPCR») • The goal of this Program is to incorporate adaptation to climate change into the development policies and strategies, aimed at reducing poverty and ensuring sustainable development; • PPCRwill be implemented through international development banks together with the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. • The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. Identified a number of sectors (Ecosystems; Land and Forest Resources; Water Management and Agriculture; Energy), which are deemed as most vulnerable to climate change.

13. Adaptation Measures 3.NGO climate change adaptation experience in Tajikistan: • NGO Climate Network –«Tajik Climate Change Network (TajCN)» to exchange information, pursue dialogue and discussion in civil society with a focus on environmental and climate policy, climate change adaptation, energy saving and energy efficient development of alternative energy sources; • To build capacity in local communities to respond to emergencies associated with natural hydrometeorological hazards, to develop and implement adaptation mechanisms in Tajikistan rural communities.

14. Adaptation Measures

15. Thank you!