OSCE Center in Bishkek supports environment and emergency risk reduction training for Central Asia

BISHKEK, 24 September 2014 – The OSCE Centre in Bishkek is hosting a three-day training course on ”Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation” for representatives from the national agencies of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and OSCE field operations in Central Asia in Bishkek.

Some 25 national stakeholders and OSCE economic and environmental officers are discussing the importance of mainstreaming disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation measures into their work. The training includes site visits, the exchange of best practice and networking opportunities.

“Best practices start at home”, said the Ambassador of Switzerland to the Kyrgyz Republic René Holenstein. “The greatest lesson learned from the 2011 Tohoku earthquake in Japan, and subsequent tsunami and nuclear accident, is that early warning, prevention and preparedness instruments and measures must be continuously developed, and strengthened at home. Disaster risk reduction activities and climate change adaptation must be one of the greatest concerns for national authorities”.

The Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, said: “The OSCE Centre in Bishkek is strongly committed to promoting greater regional political stability, security and sustainable socio-economic development in the region. We are well positioned to foster a constructive regional dialogue on improving collective mechanisms and look for a coordinated response to environmental security challenges in the disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation areas”.

The training is held in co-operation with the OSCE Secretariat, Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency Situations, Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.