*[Enwl-eng] 🌍 CAN EECCA Newsletter: 139 Grants Cut, Calls to the 'Silent Majority', and Questionable Nuclear Projects in the Region
ecology
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Wed Apr 23 17:59:32 MSK 2025
Climate Activism and Green Transition in EECCA
Climate Change and Energy News:
Weekly Digest by CAN EECCA
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Dear subscribers,
This issue highlights the week’s key
developments in climate, energy, and the environment: ecological risks from
the Rogun Dam project, the U.S. cutting support for civil society, and
ongoing repression against environmental activists in the region. On the
global agenda — the fight for fair climate policy in the UK and persistent
calls to mobilize the "silent majority" in defense of climate action. Plus —
a selection of current opportunities for activists, researchers, and NGOs.
We’re always open to hearing your thoughts,
ideas, or stories — don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Sincerely,
The CAN EECCA Team
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News from the EECCA Region
Youth Leading the Way: Young Leaders
Contribute to Georgia’s New Climate Plan
On April 16, Tbilisi hosted Georgia’s
first-ever Youth Climate Forum, dedicated to shaping the country’s new
climate commitment — NDC 3.0. This event marked a significant milestone as,
for the first time, Georgian youth were directly involved in public
consultations on the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the
Paris Agreement. The updated NDC 3.0 is expected to be submitted to the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the coming weeks.
More than 50 young activists participated in
the Forum, including Georgia’s Youth Climate Ambassadors.
Aliyev: Azerbaijan and China Strengthen
Alliance Despite "Western Pressure"
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced
that cooperation between Azerbaijan and China is actively expanding in
trade, climate initiatives, and shared multilateral goals, despite pressure
from certain Western countries. In an interview with China's Xinhua news
agency, Aliyev emphasized that relations between Baku and Beijing have
"entered a historic phase" following the signing of the Joint Declaration on
Strategic Partnership with Chinese President Xi Jinping in July 2024.
During recent meetings, more than 15
investment projects were discussed across sectors such as heavy industry,
mining, agriculture, light industry, green energy, and others.
How can energy communities become a key tool
for Ukraine’s reconstruction?
How can communities provide their own
energy? How would this contribute to the country’s energy security? And why
has this approach already proven successful in the EU countries? These
questions were discussed during an event organised by Ecoaction, which
served as a platform for addressing current challenges to energy resilience
and exploring opportunities for Ukrainian communities.
The Shadow of Rogun Over the Amu Darya: Why
the Hydropower Megaproject Raises Concerns
The World Bank’s Inspection Panel has
accepted a complaint from residents of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan regarding
the ongoing construction of the Rogun Hydropower Plant (HPP). The main
concern is that the current Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
(ESIA) is incomplete, based on outdated data and concepts from a decade ago,
and fails to adequately address the project's key risks. The documentation
does not fully consider the interests of downstream communities,
particularly those in the ecologically distressed Aral Sea region. The
reduction and seasonal redistribution of the Vakhsh River’s flow during
construction, reservoir filling (expected to take at least 15 years), and
operation of the Rogun HPP will inevitably lead to water shortages in the
lower reaches of the Vakhsh and Amu Darya rivers.
Armenian Ministry of Environment and UN
World Food Programme Sign Memorandum
The Ministry of Environment of Armenia and
the UN World Food Programme (WFP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding
aimed at jointly promoting biodiversity conservation within communities and
fostering sustainable ecosystems. The memorandum was signed by Aram
Meimaryan, Deputy Minister of Environment of Armenia, and Nanna Skau,
Representative and Director of the WFP Office in Armenia.
"We Will Not Stop": Environmentalist Sues
Ministry Amid Caspian Sea Crisis
The ecological state of the Caspian Sea
became a topic of open discussion in Kazakhstan's Mazhilis (Parliament).
Vadim Ni, founder of the Save the Caspian Sea movement, delivered a speech
announcing that he has filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Energy. He is
demanding the disclosure of oil agreement terms that impact the marine
environment.
Moldova: "High Consumption, Zero Bills" —
Renewable Energy as the Key to Energy Security
A village with zero energy bills is not a
utopia but a reality in Moldova. Thanks to the active development of
renewable energy sources in the village of Feștelița, the local
kindergarten, school, and most residents now have zero energy costs.
The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine
became a significant catalyst for Moldova's transition to renewables. In
2022, both Ukraine and neighboring Moldova faced an energy security crisis,
with soaring prices for natural gas and electricity. At that time, heavily
dependent on energy imports from Russia and Ukraine, Moldova sharply
increased its investments in renewable energy projects.
Construction Begins on Uzbekistan’s First
Small Modular Nuclear Power Plant
In Uzbekistan's Jizzakh region, construction
has commenced on the initial production facilities for a small modular
nuclear power plant (SMR) project, utilizing Russian RITM-200N reactors. The
RITM-200 is a pressurized water reactor previously deployed on nuclear
icebreakers and considered proven technology for maritime use. However, a
land-based plant with these reactors (RITM-200N, where "N" stands for
"nazemny," meaning land-based) has yet to be built, making it not fully
classified as a reference project. A similar initiative began in Yakutia in
2024. Notably, this technology has so far only been applied in colder
regions.
US Cancels Democracy Grants in Several
Countries, Including the EECCA Region
The US State Department has canceled 139
grants for foreign projects totaling $214 million. Secretary of State Marco
Rubio approved the decision, which will take effect from April 15. The US
will cease funding initiatives promoting "civic engagement" in Uzbekistan,
"newsroom resilience" in Moldova, "countering disinformation" in Belarus,
"environmental sustainability" in Armenia, and "civil society resilience and
adaptation" in Kyrgyzstan, among others.
Kyrgyzstan: $52 Million for Nature
Restoration
Kyrgyzstan has launched a large-scale
environmental initiative, RESILAND CA+, aimed at protecting nature and
preventing natural disasters. Funded by the World Bank, the project focuses
on mitigating mudflows, restoring degraded lands, and strengthening
cooperation with neighboring countries in sustainable landscape management
Protest on Scorched Ground: How
Environmental Activists in Russia Fight to Save Nature Despite Repression
New regulations adopted by the Moscow City
Hall at the end of last year, allowing uncontrolled construction and
so-called "improvement" of city parks, have sparked a new wave of protests.
Environmental activists, despite facing severe repression since the start of
the war, continue to resist government arbitrariness not only in Moscow but
across the country. Large-scale campaigns—blocking roads, staging pickets,
electing deputies to local parliaments, and halting construction
projects—are no longer possible, as eco-activists are often persecuted as
harshly as anti-war protesters. However, they persist in using other
available methods and, surprisingly, often achieve success.
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World Climate and Energy News
"Spiral of Silence": Why Do We Underestimate
Support for Climate Action?
A study has revealed that 89% of people
worldwide support more active efforts to combat climate change. However,
many mistakenly believe that those around them do not share this view.
Experts are calling to bring the "silent
majority" into the spotlight to accelerate climate initiatives.
The Guardian, together with dozens of global
media outlets, has launched the 89 Percent Project to highlight that the
overwhelming majority of the world's population wants real climate action.
Even in the Trump Era: 10 Charts Proving
Clean Energy Is Winning
Technologies that allow us to live and work
with less harm to the climate — such as wind and solar energy, batteries,
and other solutions — are rapidly becoming cheaper, more efficient, and more
accessible. Progress in reducing costs, scaling up, and improving
performance has exceeded even the boldest expectations: previous optimistic
forecasts for green technology development now seem too modest. Clean energy
is no longer just powering our daily lives — it is driving global economic
growth, creating new industries and jobs, and reshaping global trade.
Former UK Energy Minister Ed Miliband Slams
Nigel Farage and Conservatives Over Climate Policy Lies
Former UK Energy Minister Ed Miliband has
sharply criticized Nigel Farage and the Conservative Party for spreading
dangerous "nonsense and lies" about the country’s climate policy. The
criticism was triggered by claims that the UK’s net zero target is allegedly
destroying the economy, particularly the steel industry. Farage and the
Conservatives blamed high energy prices, including those from renewable
sources, for the crisis at the British Steel plant in Scunthorpe, stating
that this has pushed the company to the brink of closure.
Additionally, the Reform Party used the
situation to call for increased oil and gas extraction in the North Sea to
achieve energy independence, ignoring the fact that hydrocarbon reserves in
the region are rapidly depleting and most of the production is exported.
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Opportunities
Regional Youth Workshop on IPBES for Europe
and Central Asia 2025
The aim of the workshop is to support youth
engagement with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), as well as to enhance
understanding and use of its resources. This regional workshop is focused on
building the capacities of young professionals and active youth from
countries in Europe (including Central and Eastern Europe) and Central Asia.
ALIPH and the European Union Announce a Call
for Projects to Protect Central Asia's Cultural Heritage from Climate
Threats
At the Aral Culture Summit, initiated by
Gayane Umerova, Chair of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development
Foundation (ACDF) and new member of the ALIPH Board, Valéry Freland,
Executive Director of the International Alliance for the Protection of
Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH), announced a new project call in
partnership with the European Commission's Service for Foreign Policy
Instruments (FPI).
This initiative aims to strengthen current
efforts to address the growing threat that climate change and natural
disasters pose to cultural heritage in Central Asian countries —
specifically in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and
Uzbekistan.
Iris Prize 2025: Grants up to $15,000 for
Young Nature Protectors
Applications are now open for the Iris Prize
2025 (@theiris_project) — an international award for young eco-leaders (ages
14–24) who are restoring and protecting nature in their local communities.
— The project must be initiated and led by
young people (14–24 years old)
— Focused on nature conservation and
restoration within the local community
— You can apply with an idea, a small
project, or an initiative with growth potential
— Initiatives from the Global South are
especially encouraged
— The project leader must retain autonomy
and decision-making power
— If you are under 18, a fiscal sponsor
(e.g., an NGO) is required
Prizes up to $15,000, mentoring support, a
film about your project, and global recognition!
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From: CAN EECCA <digest at caneecca.org>
Date: ср, 23 апр. 2025 г. в 16:30
Subject: 🌍 CAN EECCA Newsletter: 139 Grants Cut, Calls to
the 'Silent Majority', and Questionable Nuclear Projects in the Region
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