The first workshop of the project Supporting Collective Response to Climate Emergencies and Creating Sustainable Development Pathways to Support Human Security and Green Transformation was held in the city of Cholpon-Ata

On February 6, 2024 in the city of Cholpon-Ata the first meeting within the project Supporting Collective Responses to Climate Emergencies and Creating Sustainable Development Pathways to Support Human Security and Green Transformation was held.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Issyk-Kul district administration, district representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, relevant specialists, heads and deputies of pilot rural districts, village heads, youth organizations, school heads, heads of school parliaments, women's councils, and eco-activists. The event presented information on the project to mitigate and monitor the risks and consequences of glacial lake outburst, floods and landslides in the highlands.

The event was attended by Aydai Ashiralieva, representative of the UN Headquarters, Tahmina Alikbayeva, representative of the UN Development Program, Ramis Mambetaliev, Deputy Head of Issyk-Kul District Administration, Mirlan Radikovich, Deputy Mayor of Cholpon-Ata, representatives of the District Water Management Department, State Ecotechnical Inspectorate, who expressed their views on the issues raised and enthusiastically supported the launch of the project.

Tahmina Alikbayeva, representative of the United Nations Development Program, made a presentation on the project Supporting Collective Ways of Overcoming Climate Emergencies and Ensuring Human Security, as well as Creating Sustainable Development Pathways in the Transition to Green Transformation. Chinara Abdyraimakunova, Project Coordinator, made a presentation on Supporting Community Response to Climate Emergencies and Reducing Risks and Impacts of Glacial Lake Outburst, Floods and Landslides in High Mountains by Creating Sustainable Development Pathways and Strengthening Community Adaptive Capacity in Support of Human Security and Green Transformation.

Jumabaev Kalys, Senior Operational Commissar of the District Department of Emergency Situations of Population and Territorial Protection, spoke about the prevention of hazards and emergencies caused by glacial lake outburst and landslides in the Cholpon-Ata, Chon-Sary-Oi and Bosteri village districts of the Issyk-Kul region. The meeting was accompanied by very interesting questions and answers.

Elmira Abdyldaeva, an emergency specialist from Bosteri village, noted the relevance of the project on collective ways to combat climate emergencies, asked to provide volunteers with equipment, and also noted the need to organize training in first aid.

Ramis Mambetaliev, deputy head of the Issyk-Kul district administration, thanked the project team and invited the local population to actively participate. "As a geologist, I can say that there are more than 2000 glaciers in Kyrgyzstan, more than 300 of them are lakes, and the fact that 170 of them are in Issyk-Kul is dangerous for us. When we get information about prevention, we have to use it to see the benefits. "As the saying goes, "Forewarned is forearmed" we are obliged to take preventive measures" Mambetaliyev said.

The project is being implemented by the United Nations Development Program with support from the Japanese government. The Roza Otunbaeva Initiative International Public Foundation will implement the task Reducing the Risks and Consequences of Glacial Lake Outburst, Floods and Landslides in the Highlands by Strengthening the National Disaster Monitoring System and the Adaptive Capacity of Society in the Cholpon-Ata, Chon-Sary-Oi and Bosteri rural districts under the project.

Under the project, the Foundation will establish an environmental monitoring group and conduct training on climate change impacts, safe behavior, first aid, environmental modeling and monitoring tools. Gender awareness activities will also be organized for communities and tourists in the target villages.

The project aims to establish a permanent monitoring system at central and local levels. This is because the lack of monitoring makes it difficult to identify risks, resulting in a lack of knowledge about the prevalence and severity of disaster hazards. The melting of the Sunny Side Ala-Too glacier in the Issyk-Kul region poses a threat to densely populated areas.

Kyrgyzstan's more than 2,000 mountain lakes are threatened by climate change and rising global temperatures associated with permafrost degradation. Nearly 20% of them are at risk of disappearing due to natural dam instability, frequent flood outbursts, and melting of buried ice inside the dams. The estimated risk of glacial lake outburst is 328 per year, with the last major glacial collapse occurring on July 8, 2022, in the Jeti-Oguz district of the Issyk-Kul region.