Kyrgyzstan

Overall Objective

The role and objective of GGGI in the Kyrgyz Republic is to support the government in achieving green growth. This involves identifying opportunities to leverage synergies within national and international environmental and social agendas, leading to more responsible and sustainable economic growth.

Context

The Kyrgyz Republic is a landlocked country in Central Asia – located between Kazakhstan, People’s Republic of China (PRC), Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. More than 90% of the country is elevated at >1,000m above the sea level, sandwiched between two major mountain systems such as: (i) Tien Shan; and (ii) Pamirs. The country is vulnerable to climate change impacts, ranking the 75th among 181 countries. As reported to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), average annual temperatures in the country have risen about 1.1°C between 1960–2010 (with a notable acceleration within 1990-2010), and the most vulnerable sectors towards climate change include water, energy, agriculture and infrastructure. Out of nearly 7 million population, about 35% of the workforce is employed in agriculture sector – majority in animal husbandry and crop production activities, with seasonal sprinkling irrigation system linked with surface water sources supplied from mainly mountain glaciers. The country is rich in mineral resources, including gold, where the largest gold mining company (Kumtor) is owned 100% by the state.

 

The Kyrgyz Republic is a relatively small emitter of greenhouse gas (GHG) – the 137th in the world – with a total share of 0.03%. The country remains active in the global commitment to GHG mitigation, with the goal to reduce GHG emissions with international support by 36.61% and 43.62%, respectively by 2025 and 2030, under the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario. Domestic production of electricity is dominant in hydro (more than 70%). According to the updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), the country identified mitigation actions and policies in five sectors, three of which are prioritised: (i) energy, (ii) agriculture, and (iii) forestry and other land use sectors. In parallel, the updated NDC included adaptation measures denominated mainly in sectors such as: (i) water resources and agriculture; (ii) energy; (iii) emergencies; (iv) public health; (v) forest and biodiversity; as well as intersectoral sections: (vi) climate-resilient areas; and (vii) green cities. The updated NDC emphasises the government’s commitment to catalyse private investment in climate projects, using public-private partnership (PPP) schemes.