Mary, Turkmenistan – The European Union – Turkmenistan Sustainable Energy Days took place in the city of Mary. The lectures for faculty members and students of the State Energy Institute, the Ecological action for schoolchildren, and the Award Ceremony to recognise the Most Energy Efficient School of Mary were organised as part of this campaign on 15 December 2023.
The campaign was held by the European Union (EU) through its project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)”, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project “Sustainable Cities in Turkmenistan: Integrated development of green cities in Ashgabat and Avaza”, and with the support of the Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, and the Hyakimlik of Mary Velayat.
Teachers and senior schoolchildren, representatives of the EU Delegation to Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Education, State Energy Institute, Education Department of the Mary Velayat, and the Mary Hyakimlik, UNDP and SECCA projects teams participated in the Ecological action for schoolchildren and the Award Ceremony to recognise the Most Energy Efficient School of Mary.
The Ecological action for schoolchildren included an introductory lecture on interlinkage of energy and climate change, sources of energy, and transition to green energy, a quiz challenge “Energy Efficiency Champions” , an art challenge “Our choice: Green Energy! Our future: Green Planet!” and a ceremony of planting trees. The UNDP’s “Climate Box” – a comprehensive learning toolkit designed specifically for educating schoolchildren about climate change and sustainable energy – was used for this action.
At the Award ceremony, School 28 was announced as the most energy efficient school among 36 public schools of Mary. The Evaluation Committee consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Education, State Energy Institute, Education Department of the Mary Velayat, and the Mary Hyakimlik carefully examined the schools based on a number of criteria, including electricity, natural gas, water consumption, consumption of thermal energy from other sources, number of green areas, implementation of energy efficiency and energy saving measures, relevant capacity building of teachers. Schools №23, №24, №25, №26, №29, which were shortlisted in the competition, received certificates of appreciation.
Ms Beata Peksa, EU Ambassador to Turkmenistan, said: “By sustainable energy, we understand achieving climate neutrality, deploying renewable energy and improving energy efficiency. Efforts to raise awareness, such as the Sustainable Energy Days, are instrumental in motivating citizens to act together and build healthy and green future for ourselves and future generations. I wholeheartedly congratulate winning School 28, its teachers and students, for this outstanding achievement. I also celebrate the shortlisted schools. I believe with your dedication to sustainability and environmental protection a lot of good things can be done.”
Ms Jemal Durdykova, UNDP project expert, said: “One of the goals of UNDP is to make individual and collective decisions and actions that will lead us to a sustainable future, since the fight against climate change is a common task that concerns everyone. In this regard, it is important not only to lead an ecological lifestyle ourselves, but also to push other people to a more sustainable lifestyle.”
In addition, the same day, more than 250 faculty members and students of the State Energy Institute took part in the lectures delivered by the experts from the EU Member States, Energy Community Contracting Parties, and of the SECCA project. The topics included the energy efficiency in buildings, ecodesign and energy labelling of electric appliances, prospects and challenges of green hydrogen production development, participation of the Central Asian countries in the EU’s “Horizon Europe” and “Horizon 2020” programmes.
On 14 December 2023, the International Conference “Sustainable energy in Turkmenistan: prospects and challenges” was held in Mary, within the campaign.
Background:
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 European countries. It is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. It acts globally to promote sustainable development of societies, environment and economies, so that everyone can benefit.
The EU-funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)” (from March 2022 to March 2026) aims to promote a sustainable energy mix in the Central Asia region in line with EU best practices. To fulfil its mission, SECCA strives to provide for strengthened and more inclusive policy, regulatory and institutional framework for the transition to a sustainable energy system, within a regional context, and focuses on contributing to the fulfilment of international human rights commitments in CA countries, including equal access to energy, and supporting gender inclusive policies and legislation for energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE). The project activities include capacity development for EE and RE deployment, awareness raising on EE and RE, and improving investment climate for EE and RE projects. Website: www.secca.eu.
UNDP project “Sustainable Cities in Turkmenistan: Integrated development of green cities in Ashgabat and Avaza”. The objective of the project is to significantly reduce the negative effects of urban growth in Turkmenistan and simultaneously achieve the goals of social and economic development. To this end, the project provides technical assistance, organizational and political support, the organization and development of programs, as well as the promotion of behavior change in combination with national priorities and specific needs formulated by the Government. The measures introduced in Ashgabat and Avaza have led to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and social benefits in themselves, as well as creating the basis for replication in other regions of Turkmenistan.
The Energy Community is an international organisation which brings together the European Union and its neighbours to create an integrated pan-European energy market. Its key objective is to extend the EU internal energy market rules and principles to countries in South East Europe, the Black Sea region and beyond on the basis of a legally binding framework. The Energy Community has nine Contracting Parties: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, and Ukraine.
The EU–Turkmenistan Sustainable Energy Days is part of the broader EU–Central Asia Sustainable Energy Days campaign. Its purpose is to enhance the awareness of all national stakeholder groups and the broader public in the region on the significance, benefits and accessibility of sustainable energy.
For additional information, please contact Mrs Yelena Serebrennikova, Communication strategist, SECCA, email: media@secca.eu, WhatsApp: +77019814020, Mrs Nurgul Smagulova-Dulic, Digital Communication Expert, SECCA, email: nurgul.smagulova@secca.eu, WhatsApp: +77012066760, or the EU Delegation to Turkmenistan: Aygul.BASHIMOVA@eeas.europa.eu.
