SWITCH-Asia

WHEN:  22-23 May 2025     I    TIME:  9:00 - 17:00 (Bishkek Time)    I   This hybrid event is by invitation only

Background:

Central Asian countries are increasingly aspiring toward greener, low-carbon development pathways, recognizing the urgency of addressing climate and environmental challenges while pursuing sustainable economic growth. Several countries in the region have adopted national strategies or roadmaps on green economy and climate action - Kazakhstan was among the first in the region to adopt a Green Economy Concept in 2013, while Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have recently integrated circular economy principles into national development plans. The government of Turkmenistan has expressed an interest in the area of Circular Economy and facilitates regional alignment of climate work. Renewable energy targets, efforts to improve energy efficiency, and emerging climate legislation reflect the growing commitment to a more sustainable future.

Within this context, the adoption of circular economy principles - such as resource efficiency, waste reduction, and material recovery - is gaining traction, especially in key sectors like construction, food systems, and manufacturing. Policy tools such as green public procurement and extended producer responsibility are beginning to shape more circular and resilient supply chains, facilitating the region’s integration into sustainable trade and production networks. 

These developments towards circular economy strongly align with the broader goals of the EU Global Gateway, which places circular economy and resource efficiency, along with pollution and greenhouse gas emission reduction, at the core of its green and sustainable development agenda. These priorities are reflected in the Gateway’s focus on Green Transition and Climate Action, Sustainable Infrastructure, and Support for Sustainable Value Chains. By fostering policy dialogue, knowledge exchange, and legislative engagement, the Global Gateway can support Central Asia’s transition toward circular value chains - enhancing regional sustainability, economic resilience, and alignment with global green economy standards.

This meeting will centre on advancing the circular economy agenda through dialogue with parliamentarians from Central Asian countries, focusing on strategic directions, key opportunities for action, and pathways for legislative development. Contributions from various SWITCH-Asia Technical Advisory projects will enrich the discussion by offering practical insights from ongoing work in areas such as sustainable tourism, circular economy in construction, green public procurement (GPP), strengthening NDCs through sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and extended producer responsibility (EPR).

Objectives:

• Support parliamentarians in Central Asia to develop, refine, and advocate for policies and legislation that promote Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) and Circular Economy (CE), including integration into national strategies, legal frameworks, and climate commitments such as NDCs and LT-LEDS.
• Enable structured dialogue and peer exchange among parliamentarians across Central Asia, supported by experts and stakeholders, to share experiences, lessons from technical assistance, and opportunities for CE policy innovation tailored to national contexts and regional cooperation.
• Equip parliamentarians with insights and partnerships necessary to champion the replication and scaling of CE and SCP practices in key sectors such as construction, food, and tourism - leveraging tools like Green Public Procurement (GPP), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and public-private collaboration.

Agenda