Environment ministry launches climate initiative with five Central Asian nations

The environment ministry said it has launched a cooperation framework with five Central Asian nations to address shared challenges in climate, energy and the environment. The initiative was unveiled during the Korea-Central Asia Summit, marking the first multilateral summit between South Korea and the region.

The policy connects the growth needs of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan with South Korea's strategies for supply chain diversification and market expansion. Key areas of cooperation include the transition to renewable energy, decarbonization, air quality improvements, stable water supplies and waste management.

Collaboration methods will range from policy and personnel exchanges to joint research, technology cooperation and infrastructure development. These efforts aim to support international greenhouse gas reduction initiatives and joint pilot programs, creating overseas contracting opportunities for domestic companies.

Included in the Seoul Declaration, which outlines the long-term cooperation vision between South Korea and the five nations, the initiative secures driving power at the summit level. The ministry plans to continuously discover cooperation tasks suited to each country's conditions and needs, pushing for follow-up consultations to turn them into actual projects.

Kim Ji-young, director of international cooperation at the ministry, highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership. "Central Asia is a region with great potential to grow together based on our country's policy, technology and industrial capabilities, while facing urgent needs for climate crisis response, energy transition and environmental improvement," Kim said. "We will actively pursue cooperation so that Korea's excellent policies and technologies contribute to tangible environmental improvements in Central Asia and lead to expanded overseas advancement and contract opportunities for our companies."