Ms. Antje Grawe Speech at NDC 3.0 launch

Honorable Mr. Meder Mashiev, Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, 

Your Excellencies Ambassadors,

Distinguished government representatives, 

Colleagues from the United Nations system, 

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great honor to speak on behalf of the UN System and its 27 Funds and Programs operating in Kyrgyzstan. First and foremost, I would like to congratulate the Minister and his team for the early launch of the NDC 3.0 process. This reflects Kyrgyzstan’s strong commitment to the Paris Agreement and its contributions to global climate efforts. The UN System is proud to be a partner in this journey, and I extend my gratitude to UNDP for leading the UN’s technical coordination in developing NDC 3.0 under my overall leadership. This support is guided by the direct instruction of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who closely follows the UN System’s efforts to help countries enhance their ambition in reaching the 1.5°C target—an increasingly urgent goal in the face of accelerating climate change.  

2024 was officially the hottest year on record and the first in which the 1.5°C threshold was exceeded. However, as the UN Secretary-General recently reminded us in Davos, “Breaching this limit does not mean the long-term goal of keeping the rise in global temperature to 1.5°C is shot.” It is a call for urgency, not resignation. With optimism and determination, we must accelerate action across the globe to curb temperature rise.

For Kyrgyzstan, the urgency is deeply personal. Though a minor contributor to global warming, the country faces disproportionate impacts—rising temperatures, retreating glaciers, and water stress—that threaten agriculture, energy, and millions of livelihoods. Yet, this challenge also offers a chance to build resilience, drive innovation, and secure a sustainable future.

Reflecting on the NDCs 2.0, Kyrgyzstan has made notable progress. Renewable energy projects such as hydropower expanded, now supplying over 90% of the country’s electricity. In agriculture, innovative irrigation systems and climate-resilient crops were introduced to combat droughts, while, supported by the UN System, forestry efforts restored degraded lands and urban pilot programs tested energy-efficient building technologies. Gender-responsive policies and youth climate initiatives also began taking shape.

However, despite these achievements, challenges remain. Data systems need improvement to track emissions and adaptation progress effectively, financing mechanisms must be strengthened to attract investments, and coordination across sectors must improve. A whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, along with stronger alignment with development partners, is essential to maximize impact and avoid duplication. 

These lessons underscore the need for the NDCs 3.0 to be both ambitious and pragmatic. Globally, priorities include tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030, and Kyrgyzstan is well-positioned to contribute. Achieving these goals domestically will cut greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy security, and create green jobs. While renewable energy, mainly hydropower, accounts for 28% of Kyrgyzstan’s overall energy supply, only 10% of its hydropower potential has been tapped, offering a major opportunity to boost employment and reduce energy costs.

Adaptation is equally vital. With around 40% of Kyrgyzstan’s workforce dependent on agriculture, building resilience is critical to protecting livelihoods and ensuring food security. Nationwide early warning systems can shield communities from climate-induced disasters, while sustainable water management plans are essential to addressing risks from glacier melt and seasonal variability.

At the same time, finance is key to turning NDC 3.0 into action. Only significant resources and strong financial partnerships will allow the NDCs to be effectively implemented. Aligning the NDCs, therefore, with the Integrated National Financing Framework can help Kyrgyzstan tap into international climate finance, including the $300 billion annual New Collective Quantified Goal agreed at COP 29 in Baku, and build partnerships with the World Bank and other regional Multilateral Development Banks as well as national partners. 

Dear participants, 

Considering these critical factors—accelerating sustainable development, enhancing adaptation, and increasing access to finance—I would like to encourage the Government to marry the NDC 3.0 framework with the currently developed National Development Program 2030.  Ensuring that these two processes inform one another will help align climate action with key economic drivers while mitigating risks. Embedding climate-sensitive goals into the National Development Strategy and aligning NDC 3.0 with economic priorities can create a mutually reinforcing process that drives transformation, strengthens resilience, and promotes social equity.

However, this process may also require making difficult but necessary decisions, such as accelerating the phase-out of coal to align with global climate goals and national sustainable development ambitions. Achieving this will require a comprehensive, whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, bringing together all stakeholders to ensure a just and inclusive transition. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Looking ahead, the path to COP 30 in Belem, Brazil, is critical. While we are currently taking stock of progress, the Draft NDC 3.0 should be finalized within the next few months—no later than June—to ensure Kyrgyzstan’s enhanced commitments are presented on the global stage in a timely manner. 

As emphasized earlier, the UN Secretary-General has called on the entire UN System to support countries in this process, working in close coordination with development partners. Through UNDP’s Climate Promise 2025 and broader UN System engagement, we are committed to providing technical assistance and aligning our efforts with the government’s priorities. We look forward to continuing this collaboration and jointly advancing Kyrgyzstan’s climate and development ambitions. 

Thank you.