ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan

On March 19, UNRCCA convened a hybrid session for PDA 2024 participants and students of Training Center for Priority Areas of Diplomacy of Turkmenistan "Preventive Diplomacy" at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan to examine a complex relationship between climate and water. The session was dedicated to the forthcoming World Water Day marked on March 22 and annually celebrated by the United Nations to underscore the significance of freshwater resources. The theme of this year's World Water Day is "Leveraging Water for Peace," - which corresponds with the ongoing work of UNRCCA in this field.

UNRCCA made a thematic presentation on the interplay between water and climate in Central Asia, also connecting the regional context with global developments and agendas in this area, including a historical background. The attention was also drawn to the importance of the key United Nations conventions governing water-related affairs, namely the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (UNECE Convention on Transboundary Watercourses from 1992) and the Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses (UN Watercourses Convention from 1997), aimed at safeguarding peace, preventing conflicts, and fostering optimal management of water resources in transboundary river basins on the basis of shared benefits.

UNRCCA also informed on specific mandate-related activities on water and climate, namely the implementation of the Strategy supporting cooperation between the countries of Central Asia on water, energy, environment, and climate for the period 2022-2025 and its four fundamental pillars of: preventive diplomacy and confidence building; strengthening institutional and legal frameworks; ensuring transparency, enhancing relationships, and promoting partnerships.

The event gave ample opportunities for fruitful exchanges of experiences and for engagement of the young participants into meaningful discussions on water and climate, confirming the importance of collaboration and coordination toward addressing critical topics of mutual concern.