Almaty, 18-19 June 2013 – The inaugural Central Asia Climate Knowledge Forum took place on June 18-19 in Almaty, organized by the World Bank Central Asia Regional Office. More than 100 policy makers and practitioners from governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, regional learning institutions, universities and civil society groups, donor community representatives, and World Bank staff attended the Forum.

"I am very pleased to kick off the first dialogue on Central Asia Climate Knowledge Forum on behalf of the World Bank," said Joachim von Amsberg, the World Bank Vice President, Concessional Finance and Global Partnerships (CFGP). "Climate change poses unprecedented challenges to developing countries, and climate change action, particularly country led, is a priority for us. This forum provides a valuable opportunity for Central Asian countries to share experiences and address common challenges in a collaborative manner. Our goal is to harness and further share the expertise of our Central Asian development partners to build capacity at national levels, and deepen regional cooperation through critical investments."

The Knowledge Forum presented an opportunity to discuss the latest World Bank climate change reports - Turn Down the Heat: Why a 4°C Warmer World Must be Avoided, Adapting to Climate Change in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and Growing Green: The Economic Benefits of Climate Action.  Participants learned from experiences in other countries, including Mexico, Brazil, and from other development partners, and shared their own perspectives and initiatives. The Forum facilitated timely sharing of knowledge and experiences accumulated internationally, identifying gaps in knowledge, as well as deepening coordination among development partners in Central Asia.

"Climate change is at the top of the World Bank agenda, we are conscious that hard-won development gains would be jeopardized if we do not tackle it collaboratively," said Saroj Kumar Jha, the World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia. "The Bank’s Europe and Central Asia Region is launching a multiyear pilot program of analytical work to assist countries in understanding the range and likely impacts of climate variability on vulnerable sectors, and to develop adequate adaptation approaches. We hope that this Forum will continue to help countries with climate change, combining science and actions."

The two-day knowledge forum was followed by a one-day technical training on various tools and knowledge products developed to address and incorporate climate change into policy and planning.