The international scientific-practical conference has commenced its work

On April 7th, at Magtymguly Turkmen State University, the opening ceremony and the plenary session of the international scientific-practical conference titled “The Main Direction for Ensuring Sustainable Development: Environmental Education and Current Issues of Environmental Protection” were held via a digital platform.

Turkmenistan is globally recognized as a venue for international conferences and forums dedicated to key areas of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including ecology and the rational use of natural resources. The main objective of this international scientific-practical conference, held at Magtymguly Turkmen State University, is to thoroughly analyze contemporary environmental issues arising from climate change; to improve methods of teaching environmental education and culture to youth; to introduce new specialized subjects into the academic curriculum aimed at training highly qualified professionals in environmental protection and the efficient, eco-economic use of natural resources; to develop interactive tools and educational platforms; and to strengthen international cooperation in scientific research and educational programs related to ecology.

More than 180 professors and scholars from 74 institutions including universities and research institutes from the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Türkiye, Hungary, the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, North Macedonia, Poland, the Kingdom of Belgium, Romania, India, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Japan, Vietnam, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Algeria, and Turkmenistan are participating in the international scientific-practical conference. They are taking part to discuss the results of their scientific and methodological research and to exchange experiences.

At the opening ceremony of the international scientific-practical conference, both foreign and Turkmen scholars, professors, and lecturers emphasized that, under the state environmental policy of the Hero Arkadag and our Esteemed President Arkadagly Hero Serdar, Turkmenistan, as an independent and permanently neutral country, not only contributes to strengthening global peace and trust, but also actively implements initiatives of international importance to ensure environmental security. They highlighted that Turkmenistan’s efforts in this field go beyond the regional level and have global significance in addressing one of the major contemporary issues of the international community.

It was particularly noted that within the framework of international environmental cooperation, Turkmenistan, as an active member of regional and global environmental conventions, is consistently fulfilling its commitments to protect and rationally use water and land resources, preserve and enhance biodiversity, and improve environmental education and culture among youth in the face of current climate change challenges. At present, Turkmenistan is aligning its national environmental legislation with the principles defined in major international ecological conventions and programs, particularly those under the auspices of respected global organizations such as the United Nations. These include the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, among others. The effective implementation of these efforts clearly demonstrates that Turkmenistan is advancing a sustainable “green economy” through the promotion of environmental well-being across the country.

It was especially emphasized that, under the state environmental policy of the Hero Arkadag and our Esteemed President Arkadagly Hero Serdar, Turkmenistan’s initiatives aimed at ensuring environmental security in the Central Asian region, as well as in the Caspian and Aral Sea areas, are not only directed toward the sustainable development of the country itself but also contribute significantly to the socio-economic and ecological stability of the entire region. These initiatives are receiving strong support from neighboring countries. As an active member of the Interstate Caspian Environmental Program, Turkmenistan is currently carrying out a range of regionally significant activities, which further reflect its consistent commitment to collaborative environmental action in the region.

During Turkmenistan’s chairmanship of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), one of the regionally significant initiatives it put forward to improve the environmental and socio-economic situation in the Aral Sea area was the adoption of the Resolution titled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea.” This resolution plays a crucial role in advancing international cooperation to mitigate the negative regional impacts of the Aral Sea crisis. Under the visionary environmental policy of the Hero Arkadag, the step-by-step construction and commissioning of the “Altyn Asyr” Turkmen Lake – the largest hydraulic engineering facility in the region clearly demonstrates Turkmenistan’s commitment to implementing practical solutions to the Aral Sea environmental issue. This project serves as a tangible example of Turkmenistan’s efforts to address both environmental and socio-economic challenges of regional importance.

In Turkmenistan, new laws are being adopted to ensure the country’s environmental security through the modernization and improvement of previous environmental laws, aligning them with international environmental conventions and agreements. Among the first laws adopted in the country are the “Radiation Safety Law,” “Ozone Layer Protection Law,” “Chemical Safety Law,” “Fishing and Conservation of Aquatic Biological Resources Law,” “Waste Management Law,” “Agricultural Land Law,” “Plant Protection Law,” “Genetic Resources of Cultivated Plants: Collection, Preservation, and Rational Use Law,” and the “Environmental Audit Law.” These laws are part of Turkmenistan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its environmental framework.

In their speeches, the foreign professors, lecturers, and scholars participating in the conference highlighted that Turkmen hospitality and the principles of friendship and fraternity continue to thrive under the leadership of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Hero Arkadag, and the Esteemed President of Turkmenistan, Arkadagly Hero Serdar.

The work of the international scientific-practical conference will be carried out in the sections titled “The Role of Innovative Technologies in the Development of Environmental Education,” “Methods of Managing the Rational Use of Water and Land Resources,” and “Key Issues of Studying and Protecting Biodiversity.”

At the end of the plenary session of the international conference, the participants wished the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Hero Arkadag, and the Esteemed President of Turkmenistan, Arkadagly Hero Serdar, good health, long life, and continued success in their efforts for the benefit of the people and humanity, particularly in the area of environmental protection and sustainable development.

In conjunction with the international scientific-practical conference, an exhibition was organized at Magtymguly Turkmen State University, showcasing books of Hero Arkadag and Arkadagly Hero Serdar, rich in scientific information, as well as achievements in the fields of science, education, and environmental protection. The exhibition left a lasting impression on the participants of the conference.

Magtymguly Turkmen State University