Turkmenistan strengthens engagement in regional cooperation on climate adaptation and cryosphere issues

January 2026 in Ashgabat began with unusually warm weather, with temperatures reaching 19.2°C, significantly above seasonal averages. Such fluctuations, characteristic of the region’s sharply continental climate, have increasingly been accompanied in recent years by an overall warming trend.

These changes reflect broader climate processes across Central Asia, including the degradation of the cryosphere. Although Turkmenistan is largely located in an arid zone, the country depends on transboundary water resources originating in mountainous areas. Glacier melt continues to play a key role in sustaining river flow, particularly during the summer months when water demand for agriculture is at its peak.

In response to these challenges, Turkmenistan is strengthening its engagement in regional and national initiatives aimed at climate adaptation and sustainable water management. Under the GEF–UNDP–UNESCO Cryosphere Project, “Strengthening the Resilience of Central Asian Countries by Enabling Regional Cooperation to Assess Glacio-nival Systems to Develop Integrated Methods for Sustainable Development and Adaptation to Climate Change,” the country is contributing to the development of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the Subregional Joint Action Programme (SJAP). These processes aim to enhance resilience to climate risks, strengthen scientific monitoring, and expand regional cooperation.

Knowledge exchange remains a key component of the project. Experts from Turkmenistan actively participate in conferences and workshops organized under the project, sharing national experience and approaches to cryosphere research. In September 2025, at a regional conference in Tashkent, Turkmen experts presented scientific papers, including “Key Features of the Cryosphere in Turkmenistan under Climate Change” (P.A. Kepbanov, G.O. Khamrayev) and “Training of Meteorologists on Cryosphere Issues at Magtymguly Turkmen State University” (G.O. Khamrayev, P.A. Kepbanov).

At the national level, awareness is also increasing. Media outlets, including the central newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan, have published articles highlighting the importance of glaciers for regional water resources and the implications of their retreat.

Turkmenistan is expected to continue its active engagement in regional dialogue under the project, including participation in the upcoming Regional Ecological Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, where key project outcomes, including the Subregional Joint Action Programme, will be presented.