AGP Executive Report

Green Schools Expansion: UNICEF and Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Education added 100 new schools to the Green School Programme, aiming to make campuses safer, healthier, and more climate-ready through governance, greener facilities, climate-aware teaching, and community action. Inclusive Education Support: A week-long UNICEF-backed technical mission helped Turkmenistan review progress and plan next steps to expand inclusive education, including better teacher preparation and support for children with disabilities and learning needs. Water & Aral Sea Cooperation: Central Asian water ministers approved a draft plan for automated water accounting in the Syrdarya basin for the 2026 growing season, with a working group to be set up by September, alongside work under CAWEC and Aral Sea saving efforts. Caspian Sea Under Pressure: A new report links the Caspian’s shrinking to sharply reduced river inflows, including major losses from the Volga, warning that decades of withdrawals are pushing the sea toward collapse. Climate Skills for Glaciers: An international summer school in Kyrgyzstan trained early-career specialists from across Central Asia, including Turkmenistan, on modern monitoring methods for glacier change and water risks. Agronomy Training: Turkmenistan published a new university textbook, “Innovative technologies in agronomy,” covering modern crop cultivation, rational water use, plant nutrition, and environmental protection.

Water & Aral Sea Basin Cooperation: Central Asian water ministers, including Turkmenistan’s State Committee on Water Resources, approved a draft plan for automated water accounting in the Syrdarya basin and discussed reservoir limits for the 2026 growing season, with a working group set to form by September. Green Schools: UNICEF and Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Education expanded the Green School Programme by adding 100 new schools, aiming to make campuses safer, healthier, and more climate-ready through governance, facilities, teaching, and community action. Inclusive Education: A UNICEF-supported technical mission helped Turkmenistan map next steps to expand inclusive education, focusing on teacher preparation and better support for children with diverse needs. Caspian Under Pressure: A new report links falling Caspian Sea levels to sharply reduced river inflows, highlighting how decades of withdrawals are pushing the sea toward collapse. Climate Skills for Glaciers: An international summer school in the Inner Tien Shan trained early-career specialists from across the region, including Turkmenistan, on modern glacier monitoring methods. Energy & Climate Training: Turkmen specialists joined a Germany internship under an EU/GIZ climate action project, working on renewable efficiency, methane reduction, and applied AI for industry.

Transboundary Water Management: Central Asian states approved a draft plan to automate water accounting for the Syrdarya basin during the 2026 growing season, with a working group set to form by September; officials also discussed limits for the Syrdarya and Amudarya basins and progress under the World Bank-backed CAWEC water-efficiency project, aiming for more sustainable use of shared rivers. Green Education Expansion: UNICEF and Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Education added 100 new schools to the Green School Programme, building safer, healthier, climate-ready campuses and embedding climate change, environmental protection, and disaster risk reduction into everyday learning. Climate Skills & Resilience: Turkmen specialists joined a Germany internship under an EU-backed climate action project, focusing on renewable energy efficiency, methane reduction, and practical training tied to digital tools and industry innovation. Caspian Sea Under Pressure: A new report warns the Caspian Sea is nearing collapse as river inflows drop sharply due to decades of water withdrawals across bordering countries, raising urgent questions for water governance and environmental protection. Desert Nature Protection: Turkmenistan highlighted its oldest black saxaul “Sazak-Palvan” in the Repetek Biosphere Reserve, a century-old tree that helps stabilize sands and signals the value of protecting fragile desert ecosystems.

Green Schools Expansion: UNICEF and Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Education added 100 new schools to the Green School Programme, aiming to make campuses safer, healthier, and more climate-ready through governance, greener facilities, climate-focused teaching, and community action. Inclusive Education Support: A UNICEF-backed week-long technical mission helped Turkmenistan review progress and plan next steps to expand inclusive education, including better teacher preparation and stronger support for children with disabilities and learning needs. Caspian Water Stress Warning: New reporting links falling Caspian Sea levels to sharply reduced river inflows, pointing to major water withdrawals across the region—including Iran, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia—raising fears of further ecological collapse. Climate Skills for Water Security: Turkmen specialists joined an EU/GIZ-backed internship in Germany focused on renewable energy efficiency, methane cuts, and applied digital tools for industry, supporting climate action capacity at home. Desert Nature Protection: Turkmenistan highlighted its oldest black saxaul “Sazak-Palvan” in the Repetek Biosphere Reserve, a living example of how desert ecosystems resist extreme heat and frost. Agronomy for Sustainability: A new Turkmen university textbook, “Innovative technologies in agronomy,” covers modern crop cultivation, rational water use, plant nutrition, and environmental protection methods.

Caspian Sea at risk: A new study links the Caspian’s rapid shrinkage to sharply lower river inflows, including major losses from the Volga, as water withdrawals across bordering countries intensify—raising fears of a “brink of collapse” scenario. Climate-and-energy training: Turkmen specialists are in Germany for an EU-backed internship focused on renewable energy efficiency, methane cuts, and practical work on digital tools for industry. OSCE and water/environment cooperation: President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met Swiss OSCE leadership, stressing expanded collaboration on energy security, transport, environmental protection, and rational water use. Biodiversity spotlight: Turkmenistan’s “Sazak-Palvan” black saxaul in the Repetek Biosphere Reserve is highlighted as a rare, century-old desert survivor helping stabilize sands and ecosystems. Health policy with SDG links: Turkmenistan approved a national program for 2026–2030 to strengthen maternal and child health, prevention, and early diagnosis. Agronomy education: A new agronomy textbook for Turkmen universities covers innovative crop cultivation, rational water use, plant nutrition, and environmental protection. Regional glacier know-how: A Central Asia summer school in Issyk-Kul trains young specialists on monitoring glaciers and water risks.

Caspian Sea Crisis: New research links the Caspian’s rapid shrinkage to sharply reduced river inflows, including major losses from the Volga—while water withdrawals and even wartime pressures are making recovery harder. Climate & Water Skills: Turkmenistan joined a Central Asia summer school in Kyrgyzstan focused on glacier monitoring and modern data tools, training young specialists to better model cryosphere change and its flood risks. Green Energy Cooperation: Turkmen specialists are in Germany for an EU-backed internship on renewable efficiency, methane cuts, and AI for industry—covering topics like well integrity and photovoltaiс tech. OSCE & Environment: President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met Swiss OSCE leadership, stressing cooperation that includes environmental protection and rational water management. Nature Conservation Spotlight: A century-old “Sazak-Palvan” black saxaul in the Repetek reserve is highlighted as a living symbol of desert resilience and ongoing protection efforts. Health & Sustainability: Turkmenistan launched a new national maternal and child health program for 2026–2030, aiming to strengthen prevention and early diagnosis.

OSCE & Environment Cooperation: President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met Swiss OSCE chair Ignazio Cassis, with both sides stressing expanded partnership on peace, human rights, energy security, environmental protection, and rational water management. Climate & Water Skills: A Central Asia summer school in Kyrgyzstan trains young hydrology and glaciology specialists on monitoring glacier change in the Inner Tien Shan, using field stations and modern measurement tools. Maternal Health (Public Health): Ashgabat hosted a national roundtable on strengthening exclusive breastfeeding support, backed by UNICEF and the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation. Biodiversity & Nature Heritage: Turkmenistan highlighted its oldest black saxaul “Sazak-Palvan,” a century-old desert tree in Repetek, protected by fencing and ongoing scientific care. Caspian Pollution Control: UNDP and partners discussed strengthening waste-management laws to cut plastic and marine litter entering the Caspian, including new monitoring and standards. Health Strategy: Turkmenistan approved “Healthy Mother – Healthy Child – Healthy Future” for 2026–2030, prioritizing maternal/child care, prevention, and workforce upgrades. Agriculture (Resilience): Farmers in Dashoguz harvested sesame yields of about 10 centners per hectare, citing the crop’s heat and drought tolerance. Regional Green Agenda: Turkmenistan’s upcoming Central Asia–Azerbaijan summit agenda includes environment and climate cooperation, with focus on water resources and Aral Sea restoration. Digital Connectivity: Turkmenistan joined a CAREC Digital Corridor consultative meeting in Islamabad, pushing modern digital ecosystems and digital government services, including healthcare.

OSCE in Ashgabat: Swiss OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ignazio Cassis visited the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, praising its on-the-ground work across arms control, border security, and economic and environmental cooperation. Desert conservation: Turkmenistan’s Repetek Biosphere Reserve is home to “Sazak-Palvan,” a century-old black saxaul tree that helps stabilize shifting sands and is now fenced and monitored. Health policy: Ashgabat approved the 2026–2030 national program “Healthy Mother – Healthy Child – Healthy Future,” focusing on maternal and child healthcare, prevention, and workforce upgrades. Caspian waste fight: UNDP and UNEP, with Turkmenistan’s environment ministry, discussed strengthening waste-management laws to curb plastic pollution entering the Caspian Sea, including better monitoring and standards. Regional green cooperation: CAREC and the Turkish States Innovation Hub explored collaboration on renewable energy, climate adaptation, water and environmental education. Environment at the summit table: President Serdar Berdimuhamedov outlined an Oct. 8 Avaza summit agenda that includes environment and climate action, plus coordinated water use for the Amu Darya and Syr Darya and Aral Sea restoration. Energy connectivity: Turkmenistan’s CAREC Digital Corridor consultative meeting in Islamabad highlighted plans to modernize telecoms and expand cross-border digital services tied to sustainable growth.

CAREC Digital Corridor: Turkmenistan joined a consultative meeting in Islamabad on the CAREC Digital Corridor, stressing modern digital connectivity, digital government services, and telecom infrastructure upgrades as drivers of sustainable growth. OSCE in Ashgabat: OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ignazio Cassis visited the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, highlighting its field work since 1999 across arms control, border security, and economic and environmental cooperation. Desert biodiversity spotlight: A feature profiles “Sazak-Palvan,” the oldest black saxaul in the Repetek Biosphere Reserve, describing how this century-old tree helps stabilize sands and supports fragile Karakum ecosystems. Maternal and child health: Turkmenistan approved a new national program “Healthy Mother – Healthy Child – Healthy Future” for 2026–2030, with phased implementation and a focus on prevention and early diagnosis. Caspian pollution control: UNDP and partners convened a roundtable on strengthening waste-management legislation to curb marine litter and plastic pollution entering the Caspian Sea, including plans for improved monitoring and standards. Green energy cooperation: CAREC and the Turkish States Innovation Hub discussed cross-border work on renewable energy, climate change, water management, and environmental education. Aral Sea & water focus for Avaza summit: President Serdar Berdimuhamedov outlined an Oct. 8, 2026 Avaza summit agenda that explicitly includes environment and climate, rational use of Amu Darya and Syr Darya water, and Aral Sea restoration.

Caspian Pollution Control: UNDP and partners backed a push to strengthen Turkmenistan’s waste-management laws, with a new monitoring programme aimed at cutting plastic and other land-based litter entering the Caspian Sea. Aral Sea & Water Security: At an upcoming Oct. 8 summit in Avaza, Turkmenistan’s draft agenda puts Environment and Climate front and center, including coordinated action on Amu Darya and Syr Darya water use and Aral Sea restoration. Biodiversity Spotlight: A new feature highlights Turkmenistan as a biodiversity hotspot, home to 450+ endemic vascular plants, especially in mountain microclimates. Conservation & Desert Life: Another story spotlights Zarudny’s Sparrow, noting Turkmenistan’s deserts as key habitat for rare desert birds. Regional Green Energy Cooperation: CAREC met Türkiye’s innovation hub in Ashgabat to discuss cross-border work on renewable energy, climate adaptation, water management, and green education. Climate Funding Call: A Central Asia-wide grant call seeks partners for projects improving climate resilience, cutting greenhouse gases, and boosting water efficiency.

Caspian Pollution Control: UNDP and partners backed a roundtable in Ashgabat on strengthening Turkmenistan’s waste-management laws, with a focus on cutting plastic and other land-based litter entering the Caspian Sea, including plans for better standards, monitoring, and data collection. Biodiversity Spotlight: A new report highlights Turkmenistan as a biodiversity hotspot, home to 450+ endemic vascular plants, especially in mountain microclimates like the Kopetdag range. Climate & Water Cooperation: CAREC and the Central Asian Institute for Environmental Research signed an MoU to expand regional work on environmental protection, climate change, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable natural resource management. Green Energy Innovation: CAREC met Turkey’s Turkish States Innovation Hub (launched in Ashgabat in 2025) to discuss cross-border clean energy, renewable power education, and green energy solutions. Aral-Sea Focus in Regional Talks: At the upcoming Central Asia–Azerbaijan consultative summit agenda, Turkmenistan’s draft agenda puts environment and climate front and center, including joint water-resource measures for the Amu Darya and Syr Darya and Aral Sea restoration. Conservation Success Story: OSCE-linked coverage spotlights Zarudny’s Sparrow as a key indicator of Turkmenistan’s desert conservation strength.

Regional Environment Cooperation: CAREC met Turkey’s Turkish States Innovation Hub in Ashgabat to discuss clean energy, climate change, water management, and green education, with a focus on cross-border solutions. Caspian Pollution Control: UNDP and partners backed stronger waste management to protect the Caspian Sea, including new standards, waste monitoring, and better data collection to cut land-based plastic pollution. Biodiversity Finance: UNDP convened stakeholders in Ashgabat to review early results on biodiversity financing plans, using BIOFIN methods to map conservation spending gaps and mobilize new resources. Aral Sea & Water Security at a Summit: President Serdar Berdimuhamedov circulated a draft agenda for an Oct. 8 Avaza high-level summit, with an Environment and Climate track calling for joint climate adaptation, rational use of Amu Darya and Syr Darya water, and Aral Sea restoration. Desertification Fight: Turkmenistan discussed with UNESCAP sustainable development, climate adaptation, and a proposed Ashgabat Regional Centre for Combating Desertification. Nature Spotlight: A feature highlights Turkmenistan as a biodiversity hotspot with 450+ endemic vascular plants, underscoring the country’s conservation value. Transport Resilience: An OSCE seminar in Ashgabat focused on climate- and disaster-resilient transport infrastructure and governance.

Clean Energy & Innovation Links: CAREC met the Turkish States Innovation Hub in Ashgabat to explore cooperation on renewable energy, climate change, water management, and green education, with a focus on education, innovation, and clean energy. Caspian Pollution Control: UNDP and partners held a roundtable on strengthening Turkmenistan’s waste-management laws to cut plastic and other land-based waste entering the Caspian Sea, including plans for better standards and a waste monitoring programme. Biodiversity Finance Push: UNDP convened stakeholders to review early results of Turkmenistan’s biodiversity finance work, using BIOFIN methods to map conservation spending gaps and mobilize new funding. Conservation Spotlight: A feature highlights Turkmenistan as a biodiversity hotspot with 450+ endemic vascular plant species, underscoring why the country’s mountain ecosystems matter for global plant protection. Aral Sea & Water Security at the Summit: Turkmenistan circulated a draft agenda for the Oct. 8 Avaza high-level summit, putting environment and climate at the center—joint action on water resources of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya and Aral Sea restoration. Desertification Fight: Turkmenistan discussed sustainable development, climate adaptation, and desertification with UNESCAP, including plans for a regional center to combat desertification in Ashgabat. Journalist Call for Climate Projects: A Central Asia-wide call invites partners to support climate resilience and clean-energy and water-efficiency projects, with concept notes due Sept. 14, 2026.

Caspian Pollution Control: UNDP and partners backed a push to strengthen Turkmenistan’s waste-management laws to cut plastic and other land-based litter entering the Caspian Sea, including plans for a new waste monitoring programme and tighter standards. Biodiversity Finance: UNDP convened stakeholders in Ashgabat to review early findings on Turkmenistan’s biodiversity finance needs, using BIOFIN methods to map current spending and identify new funding opportunities for nature protection. Aral-Sea & Climate Agenda: At an informal Central Asia–Azerbaijan heads-of-state meeting, Turkmenistan circulated a draft summit agenda for Avaza on Oct. 8, 2026, with an Environment and Climate track focused on water stewardship for the Amu Darya and Syr Darya and Aral Sea restoration. Conservation Spotlight: A feature highlights Turkmenistan’s “quiet conservation success” through Zarudny’s Sparrow, pointing to the country’s role as a key habitat for the species. Regional Water/Climate Youth Call: A Central Asia youth conference on water security and climate justice (RCOY Central Asia 2026) is set for Sept. 4–6 in Samarkand, with delegates including Turkmenistan. OSCE Resilience Work: An OSCE seminar in Ashgabat focused on building transport infrastructure that can withstand climate change and natural disasters, linking safer connectivity with sustainable development.

Avaza Summit Agenda: President Serdar Berdimuhamedov outlined a draft agenda for the Oct. 8, 2026 high-level summit in Turkmenistan, with Environment & Climate front and center: protecting nature, adapting to climate change, and coordinating water use for the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, plus Aral Sea restoration. Caspian Waste Push: UNDP and partners backed stronger waste management to cut pollution entering the Caspian Sea, focusing on marine litter and plastics, new standards, and a monitoring programme for coastal pollution sources. Biodiversity Finance Planning: UNDP convened stakeholders to review early results of a biodiversity finance project, using BIOFIN methods to map conservation spending gaps and mobilize new funding for nature protection. Desertification & UNESCAP: Turkmenistan discussed with UNESCAP ways to strengthen climate adaptation and fight desertification, including plans for a regional center in Ashgabat and participation in upcoming COP17 events. Conservation Spotlight: A feature highlights Turkmenistan as a biodiversity hotspot with 450+ endemic vascular plants, underscoring why protecting mountain and desert ecosystems matters. Climate Project Call: A Central Asia-wide grant call seeks partners to boost climate resilience, clean energy transition, and water efficiency across the region. One Health Media Training: CAREC opened applications for journalists to cover One Health links between climate, animals, and human health.

Caspian Waste Fight: UNDP and partners backed a push to strengthen Turkmenistan’s waste management laws to cut plastic and other land-based pollution entering the Caspian Sea, including a new waste monitoring programme and tighter standards. Biodiversity Funding: UNDP convened stakeholders in Ashgabat to review early results on biodiversity finance planning, using BIOFIN methods to map conservation spending gaps and mobilize new resources. Nature Spotlight: A new feature highlights Turkmenistan as a biodiversity hotspot with 450+ endemic vascular plant species, especially in mountain microclimates like Kopetdag. Conservation Success Story: Zarudny’s Sparrow is profiled as a rare desert bird that points to Turkmenistan’s quiet conservation strength. Water & Climate Calls: An open call invites Central Asian groups to develop climate resilience and clean-energy or water-efficiency projects, with concept notes due Sept 14. Regional Green Cooperation: CAREC’s Turkmenistan office and a Kazakhstan environmental institute signed an MoU to expand environmental protection, sustainable resource management, and education across the region. OSCE on Resilience: An OSCE seminar in Ashgabat focused on building transport infrastructure that can withstand natural disasters and climate change. Aral-Linked Summit Agenda: Turkmenistan’s upcoming Avaza high-level summit draft agenda puts environment and climate front and center, including Amu Darya/Syr Darya water use and Aral Sea restoration. Desertification Effort: Turkmenistan discussed with UNESCAP plans to set up a regional center in Ashgabat to combat desertification.