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Central Asian Countries Advance Climate Transparency Through Peer Review Training in Tashkent

1 August 2025

A regional practical training workshop on enhancing the quality assurance of greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories through peer review was successfully held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from 1-4 July 2025. The event marked a significant milestone in advancing climate transparency across Central Asia. It was conducted under the Regional Climate Action Transparency Hub  (ReCATH) for Central Asia under the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) , hosted by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), with technical expertise provided by the Greenhouse Gas Management Institute (GHGMI).

The training brought together national experts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to develop regional peer review mechanisms for GHG inventories— a critical component of effective and transparent MRV frameworks. Participants received hands-on training for reviewing all inventory sectors: energy, industrial processes and product use (IPPU), agriculture, land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF), and waste. The workshop also introduced practical tools and templates to support peer review and quality assurance (QA) procedures aligned with the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) of the Paris Agreement.

Strengthening Capacity and Regional Cooperation

The ReCATH project focuses on building long-term institutional capacity to establish reliable, transparent, and sustainable measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems. These systems are essential for countries to meet their ETF reporting obligations and contribute meaningfully to the global climate agenda.

Participants represented key national institutions and sectors directly involved in compiling GHG inventories and their associated processes. Their active engagement in peer review simulations fostered mutual understanding, regional cooperation, and enhanced the technical capacity required to produce high-quality national inventory reports.

Why Peer Review Matters

Peer review is a vital mechanism for improving transparency, consistency, and data quality in GHG inventories. It helps identify methodological gaps, refine emission estimates, and ensure alignment with the latest IPCC guidelines and international best practices.

“This training is timely given this year’s third round for countries to submit their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), committing the climate action they want to contribute to global climate efforts. Strengthening peer review processes helps lay the groundwork for more credible, data-driven, and ambitious NDCs. By anchoring these commitments in transparency, countries can ensure their climate actions are both measurable and accountable. Transparency remains at the heart of climate progress, and ICAT is proud to support countries in this journey. We will continue to stand with them every step of the way.” Oleg Bulanyi, Senior Programme Manager, ICAT

“This event marks an important milestone in our shared efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability under the Paris Agreement,” said Dilovarsho Dustzoda, ReCATH Project Manager at CAREC. “Peer review plays a vital role in improving the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of national GHG inventories.”

Oxana Kravtsova, ReCATH Project Specialist, added: “Peer review as a mutual assessment not only reveals gaps and areas for improvement but also contributes to building a culture of collaboration and knowledge-sharing. This process is essential for developing robust QA/QC systems needed to meet ETF standards.”

Building for the Future: Train-the-Trainer and Beyond

As part of the workshop, a Train-the-Trainer (ToT) component was introduced to build national capacity for ongoing knowledge transfer. Participants will continue remote peer review work with guidance from GHGMI experts.

The process will culminate in a final technical workshop in autumn 2025, where participants will present findings, refine recommendations, and support the integration of peer review mechanisms into national QA/QC plans. These steps aim to improve National Inventory Reports (NIR/NID) and support long-term institutional memory across the region.

A Foundation for Climate Action

In a region where technical and institutional capacities vary, regional initiatives like the ReCATH Central Asia provide essential platforms for peer learning, joint problem-solving, and expert network development. The ability to produce robust, credible GHG inventories enhances countries’ readiness for ETF reporting and builds trust in national and international climate processes.

By establishing a strong foundation for expert review and regional collaboration, the training in Tashkent marks an important step toward more transparent, accountable, and effective climate action across Central Asia.