UN Environment’s Chemicals and Waste Branch is to provide wide-ranging support to Kyrgyzstan in a bid to help reduce the intensive use of chemicals in the country’s agriculture, mining and energy sectors.

As evidenced in Kyrgyzstan’s national development strategy and national energy programme, the country aims to secure economic growth through these sectors while doing so in a way that doesn't compromise the needs of future generations.

Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, many citizens were forced to start farming without previous experience or training while striving to find new sources of income. As a result, farmers have used an excessive amount of chemical pesticides that harm soil fertility, causing yields to decline.

The new project starting this year will therefore help the country tighten legislation on chemicals, improve the exchange of information and national reporting and boost awareness on the safety of chemicals.

Trainings will be organized by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, the ‘Independent Ecological Expertise’ Public Association and other partners for decision-makers, customs officials and other chemical focal points in Kyrgyzstan.

A system for national agencies to report progress towards complying with international conventions on chemicals will also be set up, ensuring that the Central Asian country complies with the treaties in a coherent way.

UN Environment hosts the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions on chemicals and waste and the Minamata Convention on mercury. Kyrgyzstan is a Party to the BRS Conventions which shares the objective with Minamata of protecting human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals and wastes.

Funding for the work will come from the Special Programme.

For more information please write to nalini.sharma@unep.org