Europian Union launches seven green economy grant projects in Central Asia
In Tashkent, seven grant projects in Central Asia were launched under the "SWITCH Asia" program aimed at supporting sustainable consumption and the transition to a low-carbon green economy, the Dunyo news agency reported.
The EU "SWITCH Asia" program was launched in 2007. It currently covers 24 countries on the continent. In 2019, the Central Asia program was added to the list of participants. In total, 23 new projects are being implemented within its framework, 7 of them for Central Asia.
"SWITCH Asia" is funding pilot projects to help small and medium-sized enterprises adopt cleaner technologies and sustainable manufacturing practices.
EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan Eduars Stiprais, addressing the participants, noted that Europe and Central Asia face the same consumption and production patterns.
“Reduce, reuse and recycle” has become a new slogan in Europe, he said. - This new approach affects not only the operation of business, but also the behavior of citizens and regular consumers. Everyone is becoming more responsible.
At the same time, he added that to achieve success in the fight against climate change, collective efforts are needed, as well as directing investments in the right direction of green projects.
François Begeo, Head of Cooperation Department of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, presented the priorities of the "SWITCH Asia" program in Central Asia. In particular, he noted that on the way to solving the problems of climate change, the EU and Central Asia are focused on achieving Sustainable Development Goal No. 12.
“We want to help the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as promote cooperation in mitigating and adapting to climate change,” Begeo said. - In turn, it is important to create an economy with a reusable use of products. It is important to separate economic development from environmental degradation.
The list of seven projects includes:
- Resource efficiency in the agro-industrial complex in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan;
- Revival of sustainable production of ikat and silk in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan;
- Implementation of SCP practices and sustainable models in the work of MSMEs in the tourism sector of Kazakhstan;
- Implementation of the best sustainable tourism practices in the supply chain of tourism services in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia through an integrated business approach;
- Promoting energy security and sustainable growth by improving the energy and resource efficiency of the Ministry of Railways in the tourism sector in Kyrgyzstan;
- Model of sustainable tourism in Central Asia: capacity building, awareness raising, technology introduction in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan;
- Promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy production in the local tourism sector in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Source: dunyo.info