AKIPRESS.COM - President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov delivered a speech at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai, UAE, on December 1, the press service of the Presidential Administration reported.

The President noted a sharp increase in temperature in Kyrgyzstan, as well as in Central Asia as a whole. Climate change has already led to intensive melting of glaciers and a reduction in their area, a sharp increase in periods of drought and low water, deterioration of human health, as well as an increasing number of natural disasters, he added.

Japarov highlighted a very negative impact of climate change that is affecting key sectors of the economy, primarily energy and agriculture.

Glaciers located in the mountain ecosystems of Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia are vital for water, energy, food security and environmental stability, the head of state said. Kyrgyzstan has been a consistent driver of the agenda for integrating mountain issues into international negotiations at all levels for more than twenty years, according to him.

"We are grateful to all partners for their support of the initiative of the Kyrgyz Republic to adopt the resolution "Sustainable Mountain Development" at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, within the framework of which 2023–2027 was declared the Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions," the President stated.

Sadyr Japarov expressed hope for the support of not only mountainous countries, but also all other countries in the implementation of the adopted Global Action Plan under this resolution, since mountains are water towers that provide water to about 2 billion people.

"Kyrgyzstan, understanding the importance of collective action, unites countries in the Group of Friends of Mountainous Countries, and has also joined the Group of Friends of the Cryosphere and the Climate Vulnerable Forum - a platform that brings together countries that are most vulnerable to climate change and produce the least emissions," the head of state explained.

Kyrgyzstan, as a country with low greenhouse gas emissions, remains committed to the goals of the Paris Agreement and plans to reduce emissions by 16% from the "business as usual" scenario by 2030, and by 44% with international support, Japarov added. The country plans to achieve carbon neutrality on the platform of "green" development by 2050.

To achieve these goals, Kyrgyzstan intends to implement projects in the field of renewable energy sources, including the construction of hydropower stations. The country uses only 13% of the total potential of 142.5 billion kW/h of electricity, the President stressed.

The authorities are improving the legislative framework to enhance the investment climate of the country, which provides preferential conditions for investors in the development of renewable energy sources, according to the head of state.

The Kyrgyz Republic is also actively implementing the national program "Jashyl Muras" (Green Legacy) to increase forest areas. More than 8 million trees and shrubs were planted in 2022.

"In accordance with the Paris Agreement, I call on the international community, primarily developed countries, to more actively support developing vulnerable mountainous countries, including through the early launch of the Loss and Damage Fund, the provision of direct financial support and the latest technologies for free, and the creation of mechanisms for exchanging external debt for climate projects," Sadyr Japarov said.

The President expressed hope that the issues of mountain ecosystems will be included as priority issues on the agenda of COP-28, similar to the issues of small island developing states, and that the active work will continue at subsequent Conferences of the Parties.