Project of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan “Enabling the Republic of Tajikistan to prepare its First National Communication under the UNFCCC” (TAJ/00/G31) started its activity in March 2001. Main objective of the project was to prepare and submit basic information on climate change problem in Tajikistan both for the policy makers and public communities. During the document preparation the following researches have been implemented for the first time in the Republic:

• Identifying key sources of greenhouse gas emissions and analyzing emission tendencies;
• Climate change scenarios;
• Assessing vulnerability of natural resources, economy and public health to climate change.

First National Communication of the Republic informed the Framework Convention Parties of the volume and dynamics of greenhouse gas emissions, vulnerability of natural resources, economy and public health to climate change, and measures being realized and planned to mitigate climate change.

First National Communication of the Republic of Tajikistan has been prepared during 2001-2002 and submitted to the UN Framework Convention Secretariat and the 8th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (October 22, November 1, 2002, Delhi, India) in October, 2002.

National Action Plan of the Republic of Tajikistan (NAP) for climate change mitigation has been elaborated within the project and approved by the Government of the Republic as of June 6, 2003 (№ 256). The document identifies priorities and aims of measures taken by the Republic of Tajikistan to solve climate change issues, needs of developing the capacity for further research of the climatic system, and the main directions of international cooperation. NAP measures are the basis for planning and decision-making at all state levels.

NAP includes a complex of measures aimed at:

• reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the state of their natural sinks;
• promoting climate change adaptation;
• optimizing the systematic observation network;
• improving the system of education, staff training and providing access to information;
• compiling the list of sources of greenhouse gas emissions and absorbents.

First National Communication (II Phase) has been prepared in the framework of further work on preparing national communications and outlines results of research in the following directions:

• Identification of technology needs for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving the state of natural absorbents, increasing energy efficiency, and adapting to climate change adverse impacts;
• Building capacity for technology transfer, management and realization of projects in regard to climate change mitigation;
• Improvement of systematic meteorological observations and development of the national hydrometeorological service.

The second phase focuses on capacity building, including technology needs assessment and expertise level rise in areas of: evaluation of the cost of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation; economic and ecological efficiency of projects; evaluation of legislative and institutional base and identification of barriers in technology transfer and project realization.

An important task of activity on improving capacity is to assess needs of improving the policy and measures on involving international investments in solving climate change issues in Tajikistan and using internal reserves.

Main methods of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Tajikistan are: increasing efficiency of industrial processes and energy; developing and increasing the use of renewable energy sources; applying effective methods of agricultural activities and forest management in regard to climate change. It is important to integrate all climate change considerations into programmes of socio-economic and industrial development.

Priorities of climate change adaptation in Tajikistan are connected with rational water resources management, conservation of vulnerable ecosystems and biodiversity, transport security, sustainable agriculture and alleviation of drought consequences, and rational nature resources management. Special attention is paid to public health issues, a reduction of diseases, and adaptation in relation to climate warming. To assess technologies which reduce or limit the impact of climatic factors and natural disasters on the country economy and the population is very important.

Thus, capacity building activities made a basis for preparing further national reports/communications of the Republic of Tajikistan on climate change and identified priority needs in the development of technological, personnel, and institutional capacity, ways of overcoming barriers in technology transfer and project implementation. Results of the work done consider to be a stable base for fulfillment of the project national capacity self-assessment for global environment conservation in the climate change thematic area.