DUSHANBE, November 26, 2014, Asia-Plus -- The second meeting of the Central Asian Inter-State Commission on Sustainable Development is taking place at the Serena Hotel in Dushanbe from November 24-28 November.

This OSCE-supported meeting has brought together high-level officials from the ministries and committees on the environment, representatives of civil society from each Central Asian state to discuss common approaches to sustainable development and environmental challenges across the region.

According to the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, a particular focus is put on the green economy and the measures required to stimulate its development in Central Asia.  Recommendations on the transition to the green economy in Tajikistan, prepared by a national working group supported by the OSCE, will also be presented at the meeting.

“Central Asia faces environmental challenges ranging from climate change to land degradation that have the potential to affect food security, energy security and human health,” said Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, Ambassador Markus Mueller.  “A coherent response by the Central Asian States to these challenges will therefore contribute significantly to long-term stability in the region and such a response is only possible by multilateral co-operation.”

Khayrullo Ibodzoda, Chairperson of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan, said: “I commend the OSCE Office in Tajikistan for providing logistical support in organizing this meeting.  It is important to note that OSCE also supported the National Working Group that analyzed the potentials of the green economy in the state, presented at the meeting.”

The Inter-State Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD) was established under the agreement on joint actions to address the issues related to the Aral Sea signed by the heads of Central Asian states in 2003. The main objective of the ICSD is in coordinating and managing regional cooperation in the field of environment and sustainable development in Central Asia.