Ecology (AKIpress) – Kyrgyzstan holds one of the leading positions in promoting the global mountain agenda and shaping international decisions on climate and sustainable development of mountain regions. This was told to AKIpress in an interview by the President’s Special Representative for the Mountain Agenda Dinara Kemelova, noting both the country’s international initiatives and work to improve the lives of mountain communities within the country.
**– You have been overseeing the country’s mountain agenda for more than two years. In the media and reports, different data often appear: some say 90%, others 95%. So, what part of our territory is officially considered mountainous?**
– Indeed, the data vary. To put an end to this issue, we initiated a comprehensive survey and mapping of Kyrgyzstan’s mountain regions. This research is not just dry statistics. It allows us to visually see the real state of affairs: how many forests and pastures are located in mountain territories, whether residents of remote villages have access to electricity, clean water, and the internet, where disaster risk zones are. Of course, each department keeps separate statistics on its directions, but now we have a general, living picture. And answering your question, we can say that mountain territories, according to the data of the state institution of the Kyrgyz Republic ‘Goskartografiya’, occupy almost 93% of our country’s area. Currently, the research work continues, where the Working Group under the auspices of NISI plays a key role.
**– It turns out that almost the entire territory of Kyrgyzstan is mountainous. What does this mean for us on a global level?**
– Today, it can be confidently said that Kyrgyzstan holds a leading position in promoting the mountain agenda at the global level. This happened thanks to the fact that our country, under the leadership of President Sadyr Zhaparov, is taking consistent steps within the UN, achieving a gradual buildup of the global agenda in the field of sustainable mountain development.
The main outcome of Kyrgyzstan’s active work was the UN announcement of the period 2023–2027 as the ‘Decade of Action for Mountain Development’.
Since the beginning of the 2000s, we have been conducting active work to attract the attention of the world community to mountain issues. And this is really important. On one hand, residents of mountain communities are in a vulnerable position due to geographical remoteness and are more susceptible to the consequences of climate change, which we have felt on ourselves more than once. On the other hand, our mountains are ‘water towers’ and unique ecosystems for the entire region. Mountain countries give the world clean water, eco-products, and recreational benefits, ensure biodiversity and ecological balance.
That is why we are uniting efforts with other partner countries so that the ‘voice of the mountains’ sounds louder. On our initiative, in 2019, the Group of Friends of Mountain Countries was created, which already includes 31 states.
Since 2002, the Mountain Partnership has been operating, which includes 687 members, including 74 states. In the Mountain Partnership, we are currently members of the Steering Committee.
On the initiative of Kyrgyzstan and Andorra, within the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a negotiating Mountain Group was created, representing the interests of mountain territories in climate negotiation processes. Today, 11 states have joined it, and Kyrgyzstan chairs this group.
**– We know that in recent years, the President of Kyrgyzstan has been actively participating in global climate processes and in the work of COP. What key changes have occurred in this area and what does this give to Kyrgyzstan?**
We consistently work within the UNFCCC, the Paris Agreement, and promote issues of protecting mountain ecosystems and glaciers. Our President has repeatedly stated this at international platforms.
Thus, at COP29 in Baku, for the first time in history, Kyrgyzstan, together with partners, organized an international High-Level Dialogue to actualize the topic of mountains and climate change, with the participation of President S.N. Zhaparov, heads of state, and representatives of mountain countries and international organizations.
Kyrgyzstan also presented to the international community the Declaration on Climate Change, Mountains, and Glaciers, calling for immediate and coordinated actions to preserve these vital natural systems. The Declaration was supported by 21 states. Now our delegation within the COP is recognized as an active advocate of the mountain agenda.
In November last year in Belem (Brazil) at COP30, which brought together more than 56 thousand delegates from 195 countries of the world, the delegation of the Kyrgyz Republic took an active part in the negotiation process. We consistently promoted the mountain agenda, advocated the need to take into account the specifics of mountain regions in COP decisions – from adaptation measures to support mechanisms for the most vulnerable countries.
My participation was aimed at fulfilling the instructions of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, promoting the mountain agenda, and integrating the interests of mountain countries into the draft decisions of the Conference of the Parties. Special emphasis was placed on reflecting the specifics of mountain regions in adaptation issues, support for vulnerable states, and inclusion of scientifically-based approaches in official climate processes.
As a result of the Conference, important agreements were reached: the Mechanism for a Just Transition was created, and the commitment to mobilize at least 1.3 trillion dollars annually by 2035 for the fight against climate change was fixed.
In addition, a high-level political document ‘Global Mutirão – Collective Efforts’ was adopted, which approved a two-year work program on climate finance and opened the way to implement the ‘Road Map from Baku to Belem’, where the vulnerability of mountain ecosystems is also noted.
And most importantly: on the initiative of Kyrgyzstan and as a result of multilateral consultations on mountains and climate under the auspices of the Brazilian Presidency, a separate Decision ‘Mountain Areas and Climate Change’ was adopted, which instructed the UNFCCC bodies to hold an international dialogue dedicated to mountain areas and climate change in June 2026 in Bonn.
By the way, on the initiative of Kyrgyzstan at COP-28, the first expert Dialogue was held in 2024 in Bonn. These are steps to turn such dialogues into annual and systematic events to discuss problems of mountain residents and protection of mountain ecosystems against the background of climate change, find solutions, and ensure access to climate finance for mountain communities.
**– As far as I know, Kyrgyzstan at this conference did not act alone, but as part of a coalition?**
– Quite right. We worked as Chairman of the Mountain Group with delegations of countries included in our group and in close conjunction with Bhutan and Nepal. This ‘mountain trio’ allowed us to more effectively lobby common interests. The culmination of the negotiations was the decision to hold an expert dialogue on mountains in Bonn in June 2026, which I mentioned earlier.
In addition, Kyrgyzstan promotes two most important strategic initiatives:
Fund for the Development of Mountain Countries. We continue to work on the concept of a financial mechanism that will support mountain ecosystems specifically.
Creation in Bishkek of the Global Center for Mountain Region Resilience. It should contribute to obtaining knowledge, providing technical assistance, supporting projects in adaptation, mitigation, as well as reducing losses and damage in mountain regions with a focus on water resources, cryosphere, biodiversity, renewable energy sources, and climate-resilient livelihoods.
**– And what is happening inside the country? To what extent has Bishkek become a significant platform for the world community?**
– Bishkek is already becoming a ‘hub’ for promoting international mountain dialogue. In April last year, we held the ‘Global Mountain Dialogue’. This large-scale event brought together 420 participants from more than 50 countries of the world and 29 international organizations, becoming an important global platform for discussing comprehensive challenges and opportunities of mountain territories. This was a preparatory event for our main event – the Second Global Mountain Summit ‘Bishkek+25’, scheduled for October 21-23, 2027.
At the conference, we discussed everything: from glacier melting, reducing disaster risks and pasture degradation to the role of women in resource management, scientific cooperation, and mountain economy. For us, it is important that the Decade of Action ends not just with a report, but with specific changes in the lives of people living in the mountains.
**– By the way, about people’s lives. As you said, residents of mountain regions are vulnerable. What is the situation at the national level?**
– If we talk about local events, we regularly meet with local communities, which also allows monitoring the situation and learning the needs of mountain region residents. As you know, at the national level, along with the global Decade of Action, the Road Map of the Decade of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions for 2023-2027 was adopted.
Last year, changes were made to the Road Map, aimed precisely at improving the living conditions of mountain residents based on requests from meetings in mountain regions. New points were included aimed at improving the living conditions of mountain region residents – improving healthcare, access to energy resources taking into account needs, water supply and sanitation, digitalization, modernization of highways, access to education, poverty reduction, creation and development of geoparks, support for cultural tourism and heritage sites in mountain territories, comprehensive survey of mountain territories.
Last year, we completed a series of round tables in the regions, visiting Chui region and the southern regions of the country. At the events, such priorities were discussed as adaptation to climate change, revealing the potential of mountain regions, such as tourism development, organic agriculture, sustainable pasture management, and introduction of ‘green’ technologies. The progress of implementing the Decade Road Map by local authorities was also discussed.
**– The Road Map has been in effect since 2023. What key achievements do you consider the most significant?**
– Over this time, the Government has consistently worked to improve living conditions in mountain regions. Many remember the remote village of Zardaly, which our President S.N. Zhaparov visited and gave instructions to provide the village with electricity and build a road to the settlement – similar work is now being carried out in other mountain settlements of the country according to the Road Map.
8 small HPPs have been put into operation, roads are being modernized, airports are being built in the regions, access to emergency medical care, diagnostics, and disease prevention is improving.
Forest plantation areas are increasing, bank protection works are being carried out, recultivation of territories affected by uranium mining enterprises, and a whole range of other measures.
At the same time, we pay special attention to improving the well-being of mountain communities through the creation of additional sources of income. One of the new directions is branding of mountain products. Our mountains have unique resources that can become the basis for the sustainability of households: wild plants, medicinal plants, tea herbs, berries, mushrooms. Our task is to help local residents through training, production support, and market promotion of this product.
In the near future, the implementation of the project of the Government of Italy and FAO ‘Business Incubator and Accelerator for Mountain and Island Regions’ will begin, aimed at increasing the resilience of mountain and island communities by supporting innovative entrepreneurship in agricultural and textile value chains through grants, technical assistance, and capacity development. Soon we will make an announcement about the launch of the project for participation of representatives of our mountain communities.
