As Central Asia grapples with the escalating challenges posed by climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, the urgency to shift toward sustainable consumption and production has never been greater. The region's rapid economic growth, heavily dependent on resource extraction, paired with its increased vulnerability to climate impacts, highlights the need for a bold reimagining of development strategies.

Source: Caspianpost

In light of these challenges, a two-day EU Global Gateway Multi-Stakeholder Consultation is set to take place on May 22-23, 2025, in Bishkek. This event will bring together policymakers, parliamentarians, and technical experts to promote regional commitments to sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and the circular economy (CE), as reported by The Caspian Post, citing the EEAS.

Co-organized by the EU-funded SWITCH-Asia program and the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program, the consultation will focus on hastening the region's transition to circular and low-carbon economies.

Central Asian nations have made significant strides toward this goal. Kazakhstan was an early pioneer with its Green Economy Concept launched in 2013, while Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have recently integrated circular economy principles into their national development strategies. Turkmenistan has also expressed increasing interest in aligning with CE policies and enhancing regional cooperation on climate action. From setting renewable energy targets to implementing energy efficiency measures and new climate legislation, a regional momentum toward sustainability is gaining traction.

Principles of the circular economy, such as resource efficiency, waste reduction, and material recovery, are beginning to transform critical sectors like construction, food systems, and manufacturing. Policy instruments such as green public procurement (GPP) and extended producer responsibility (EPR) are being introduced to create more resilient and circular supply chains.

Legislators of Central Asia must become pioneers and ambassadors in advancing the circular economy in their countries and give impetus to the creation of a unified circular economy system across Central Asia by developing uniform model laws and standards.

These initiatives are closely aligned with the EU Global Gateway, which prioritizes green transition, climate action, and sustainable value chains within its international development strategy. Through policy dialogue and legislative collaboration, the Global Gateway aims to assist Central Asia in establishing circular value chains that enhance regional resilience and economic integration.

The Bishkek consultation will unite parliamentarians from across the region to explore actionable opportunities and discuss legislative routes for advancing the circular economy. Valuable insights from technical advisories associated with SWITCH-Asia will showcase practical examples from ongoing initiatives in sustainable tourism, CE in construction, GPP, SCP, and EPR.

This event created a valuable opportunity for collaboration, laying the foundations for parliamentarians to mainstream circular economy practices into national legislation. The European Union remains committed to supporting the region’s journey toward a sustainable growth model aligned with the EU’s Global Gateway and global sustainable development goals.

In her opening remarks, Dinara Ashimova, Deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh of Kyrgyzstan and leader of the “Yiman Nuru” parliamentary faction, stressed the crucial leadership role of legislators in shaping a circular future for the region.

Stefano Corrado, Programme Manager at the EU Delegation to Kyrgyzstan, supported this vision, noting that the consultation sets the stage for enhanced cooperation among nations and institutions.