BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 23. Kyrgyzstan holds significant potential to become a leader in renewable energy and climate initiatives, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said during a meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov in New York, TurkicWorld reports.
"Kyrgyzstan holds a unique position in Central Asia for advancing mountain initiatives and has significant potential to lead in renewable energy and climate projects," Guterres emphasized.
In response, Zhaparov expressed Kyrgyzstan's recognition of the UN as a credible and universal international organization, affirming his confidence in its continued efforts to promote global peace, prosperity, and solutions to socio-economic and climate challenges.
The president reaffirmed Kyrgyzstan's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting a human-centered policy approach. He announced the launch of the second voluntary national review of the SDGs, aimed at furthering the country's development and achieving the ambitious goal of being among the top 30 countries by 2030.
Addressing regional climate challenges such as glacial melt and dwindling water resources, Zhaparov called for support in establishing a UN Regional Center for Energy Efficiency. He proposed a debt-for-green projects mechanism as a significant contribution to combating climate change.
Additionally, Zhaparov highlighted the importance of promoting mountain agendas and invited the UN to participate in preparing for the "Bishkek+25" second global mountain summit, scheduled for 2027. He suggested creating an international platform, "UN-Mountains," to coordinate sustainable development efforts in mountainous regions.
On September 22, Zhaparov took part in the UN Summit of the Future, held as part of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.
