The latest Climate Policy Overview for Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia (EECCA) is now available. Climate Policy Overwiev provides a snapshot of the region, which in just five days hosts — for the first time in the history of climate negotiations — a UN climate summit, the 29th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
This CAN EECCA report highlights how the region’s 11 countries (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan) are advancing their climate actions amid escalating climate crisis impacts while also navigating complex geopolitical and socio-economic challenges.
This overview provides the most current data on EECCA countries’ efforts to reduce emissions, adapt to climate impacts, and meet their Paris Agreement targets. The report reviews national strategies and policies across energy and other sectors, emphasizing the region’s heightened vulnerabilities. Key insights reveal weak and inconsistent ambitions for mitigation and adaptation, along with a continued heavy reliance on fossil fuels and modest targets for energy efficiency and renewable energy. This is set against a backdrop of increasing natural disasters, water scarcity, and sectoral risks—particularly in agriculture and energy.
Key Findings & Recommendations:
- Regional Vulnerabilities: Agriculture, a backbone of the EECCA economy, faces increasing risks from climate impacts. Dependence on fossil fuels, energy inefficiency, and limited renewable options are worsening emissions, while geopolitical tensions add further strain.
- Required Actions: Transitioning to renewables and enhancing energy efficiency are crucial steps, particularly for strengthening community energy security, promoting independence, and improving health in the region. Reducing emissions in the most impacted sector—energy—remains a key priority.
- Just Transition: Public engagement, awareness, and an equitable shift toward renewable energy are critical to fostering resilience and sustainable growth. This includes aligning policies with global climate objectives and addressing social equity.
The report is intended to inform policymakers, civil society, and international partners on advancing climate resilience and sustainability across the region. CAN EECCA, a network of 57 NGOs and groups across 11 countries, invites stakeholders to engage with the report’s findings to strengthen climate action throughout the region.
Check out our regional position ahead of COP29, where we urge delegates to prioritize climate justice, accelerate the phase-out of fossil fuels, and reallocate subsidies away from fossil fuels and misleading alternatives like nuclear energy toward genuine solutions such as energy efficiency and renewable energy.