Turkmenistan's Updated NDC

Food System Overview

Turkmenistan has the highest air temperatures and the lowest precipitation in Central Asia. Droughts occur frequently and represent a huge challenge, especially since about 80% of the country’s territory is occupied by the Karakum Desert.

Agriculture accounts for 11.5% of Turkmenistan’s GDP. Due to climate change, the country’s agriculture sector may face water scarcity, increased desertification, land degradation, and droughts leading to unsustainable agricultural production and threatening food security. Shortage of freshwater for irrigation will lead to increased degradation, salinisation, and erosion of arable lands as well as degradation and reduction of natural pastures negatively affecting productivity and profitability of food production.

NDC Development

Turkmenistan’s NDC was prepared following a multistakeholder approach that included engagement with all parts of society such as key ministries, public and private sector, academic and technical experts, civil society organisations, and representatives of vulnerable groups. The NDC builds primarily on the updated National Strategy of Turkmenistan on Climate Change.

Food System Measures

Agriculture and freshwater use are among the sectors that the NDC identifies as most vulnerable to climate change. Measures to adapt freshwater use to climate change include increasing the efficiency of irrigation systems through modernisation and technical re-equipment, improving water resources management through adoption of integrated water resources management, improved regulation of management, protection, and use of water resources, and development of smart information irrigation planning systems. Moreover, collector-drainage water which is recycled in one freshwater reserve is already used to irrigate agriculture. Since water management activities of neighboring countries have a significant impact on the availability of freshwater resources for food systems in Turkmenistan, the regional system of joint water resources management also needs to be improved. Finally, financing of specially protected natural areas should be strengthened to ensure that natural ecosystems can continue to provide essential ecosystem services related to freshwater quality and availability.

NDC Implementation

Turkmenistan sees a huge opportunity in involving the private sector in NDC implementation, especially in the agricultural sector. Companies have already begun implementing water conservation activities and several private environmental firms and non-governmental organisations work on environmental protection issues in the country. Turkmenistan wants to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and offer incentives for private sector engagement in NDC implementation.

Implementation of measures related to freshwater use is already underway. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) supports projects to improve the energy efficiency of irrigation systems, reduce water consumption, and improve the reliability of freshwater supply to remote communities in arid regions. UNDP successfully cooperated with the Adaptation Fund to provide assistance to water user associations for improving water infrastructure, introducing drip irrigation systems, and reducing water loss during transportation.