ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE COOPERATION: TURKMENISTAN’S PATH AT COP31
In the Era of the Revival of a New Epoch of a Powerful State, caring for our environment has grown into one of the defining pillars of Turkmenistan’s national policy. When we look around, nature is our home. It gives us the air we breathe, the water that sustains us, and the land that feeds us. As human progress accelerates, however, the natural world finds itself under unprecedented strain. Safeguarding it is no longer just a civic obligation; it is a quiet promise we make to the generations that will inherit this earth after us. After all, nature is far more than our forests, mountains, and rivers- it is the living foundation of our existence. We rely on everything from fragile ecosystems to underground resources, and whenever we disrupt that delicate balance, the consequences are felt across the entire planet.
Translating these national priorities into international action, on 11 November 2026, Turkmenistan joined world leaders in the Turkish resort city of Antalya for COP31, the UN’s 31st climate conference, bringing a message that environmental challenges in Central Asia require shared institutions and practical cooperation. The COP31 program includes 12 thematic days covering food security, energy and transportation, a zero-waste economy, sustainable urban development, climate finance, green industry, and the protection of marine ecosystems. The conference runs from 9 to 20 November, with its key event, the World Leaders’ Summit, took place on 11 and 12 November.
Taking part in the World Leaders’ Summit, on 11 November 2026, the National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, attended the conference and addressed the plenary session of the Leaders’ Summit. During his speech, our Hero Arkadag put forward five global initiatives alongside regional proposals to strengthen climate cooperation and resilience.
Setting out Turkmenistan’s strategic vision for global action, Our Hero Arkadag noted: “Given the importance of consolidating international efforts to address climate-related issues and giving new impetus to global cooperation in this area, Turkmenistan proposes the following initiatives”:
Five Global Climate Initiatives
1. Decade of Climate Resilience and Adaptation. Proclaim 2028–2037 as the Decade of Climate Resilience and Adaptation under the auspices of the United Nations.
2. Ashgabat Climate Dialogue. Establish the Ashgabat Climate Dialogue and host its first international meeting in Turkmenistan’s capital in 2027.
3. Digital Climate Atlas. Develop a Digital Atlas of Climate Change and its negative consequences in partnership with international organizations.
4. Global Climate Technology Partnership. Form a global partnership for the transfer of climate technologies to expand developing countries’ access to clean solutions and climate financing.
5. International Environmental Code. Consider developing an International Environmental Code under UN auspices to systematize global rules, norms, and standards on environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and rational resource use.
Ultimately, Turkmenistan’s active voice at COP31 reflects a clear conviction: lasting environmental security begins with every individual’s care for nature, yet it can only be achieved when nations act together in a spirit of mutual trust and shared responsibility. By uniting practical scientific solutions with forward-looking international dialogue, Turkmenistan continues to contribute meaningfully to preserving our planet for generations to come.
Soyli YAZBERDIYEVA,
the 3rd year student of the Faculty of International Relations
of the Institute of International Relations
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan