Conference & Forum

Eighth CAREC Think Tank Development Forum. The Climate Challenge: Thinking Beyond Borders for Collective Action

27 Aug 2024 - 28 Aug 2024 Almaty, Kazakhstan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a key sponsor of the Eighth CAREC Think Tank Development Forum (CTTDF), which will be held on August 27-28, 2024, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The forum aims to address regional climate challenges by fostering collaborations for policy recommendations and joint research.

With the theme “The Climate Challenge: Thinking Beyond Borders for Collective Action,” the forum will focus on global climate governance, balancing economic growth with carbon reduction, and innovative climate finance solutions. Participants will engage in meaningful policy discourse to identify solutions for a climate-resilient region, explore joint research opportunities, and facilitate innovative climate studies beyond mainstream agendas.

The ADB’s involvement underscores its commitment to sustainable and inclusive development in the region. By supporting the CTTDF, the ADB is contributing to the development of innovative climate solutions that can help the region adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Agenda

TimeSession
8:30 am – 9:00 amRegistration
9:00 am – 09:30 amSession I: Opening Ceremony

Welcome Remarks by Mr. Kabir Jurazoda, Director, CAREC Institute
Opening Address by Mr. Yang Yingming, Vice President, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Manila, Philippines (TBC)
Keynote Address by Minister of National Economy, Kazakhstan (TBC)
Group Photo
09:30 am – 10:40 amSession II: Context Setting


  • Assessing the impact of Climate Initiatives: Progress, Pitfalls and Lessons Learned. Johannes F. Linn, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Global Economy and Development Program, Brookings Institution, Washington D.C., USA (TBC)
  • Climate change, and adaption and mitigation technologies, call for focused think-tank cooperation. Hans Holzhacker, Chief Economist, CAREC Institute
  • Pathways to Sustainable Development: Achieving High Economic Growth While Minimizing Carbon Footprints. Norbert Funke, Director IMF CCAMTAC, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Open Discussion
Moderator: Lyaziza Sabyrova, Regional Head, Regional Cooperation and Integration, Asian Development Bank
10:40 am – 11:00 amCoffee
11:00 am – 12:50 pmSession III: Asia in the Global Fight Against Climate Change: Capturing Sub-regional Perspectives

  • ASEAN’s Path to Net Zero: Policy Framework, Supporting Initiatives, and the Pathway. Ms. Marthe M. Hinojales, Senior Economist, Regional Surveillance, ASEAN +3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), Singapore
  • Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS): Enhancing Synergies and Subregional Cooperation for Climate Resilient and Net Zero Development. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, Executive Director, Mekong Institute, Thailand
  • CAREC Region’s Climate Vulnerabilities: Policy Options for a Sustainable Future. Iskandar Abdullaev, IWMI (International Water Management Institute) Country Representative for Pakistan
  • Decarbonizing Global Value Chains in CAREC: Impact of the EU’s CBAM on CAREC Economies. Altynay Arapova, Economist, Regional Cooperation and Integration, Asian Development Bank
  • Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) in the CAREC Region: Need for a Regional Framework for Sustainable Extraction. Roman Vakulchuk, Head of Climate and Energy Research Group
    Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), Oslo, Norway
  • CAREC Climate Change Action Plan: Integrating Climate Change into CAREC Program Themes. Khalid Umar, Regional Cooperation Specialist, CWRC, ADB

Open Discussion
Moderator: Mr. Sergei Ulatov, Deputy-Managing Director, EFSD”
12:50 pm – 2:00 pmSession IV: CTTN Research Grants Program (RGP) Presentations: From Ideas to Impact: Accelerating Climate Solutions through Innovative Development

  • Innovative Perspectives: Exploring Opportunities in Emissions Trading Systems for CAREC Countries. Giorgi Khishtovani, Research Director, PMC Research Center, Georgia
  • Climate Change in Kazakhstan: State Policy and Public Awareness. Azimzhan Khitakhunov, Senior Research Fellow, Eurasian Research Institute of the Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Turkish-Kazakh University, Kazakhstan
  • Optimizing Financial Architecture by Overcoming Challenges to Implement Emission Trading Mechanisms in the CAREC Region. Ummara Razi, Lecturer and Research Associate, ILMA University, Pakistan
  • Designing Policy Support for Climate-smart Trade in the CAREC Region. Hadiqa Tanveer, Lecturer, Bahria Business School, Pakistan
  • Carbon Pricing in Central Asia: Opportunities and Barriers: The Case of the Kyrgyz Republic. Aijan Sharshenova, Executive Director, Crossroads Central Asia, Kyrgyz Republic

Open Discussion
Moderator: Dr. Siddarth Saxena, Chairman, Cambridge Central Asia Forum, UK
2:00 pm – 3:00 pmLunch @ Ballroom
3:00 pm – 4:10 pmSession V: Innovative Technologies for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

  • Technological Disparity: Bridging the Gap Between Advanced and Developing Economies. Dr. Xianchun Tan, professor of Institutes of Science and Development, vice-director of the Center for Carbon Neutrality Strategy, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CASISD)
  • Scalable Solutions I: Greening Economic Corridors, Production, and Trade. Mr. Kumar Utsav, Country Director, ADB Kazakhstan Resident Mission
  • Scalable Solutions II: Green Hydrogen: Opportunities, Challenges, and Policy. Ms. Dina Azhgaliyeva, ADBI
  • Developing Innovation Ecosystem: Impact of the Made in China 2025 Industrial Strategy on Green Innovation. Dr. Asif Razzaq, Senior Researcher, CAREC Institute

Open Discussion
Moderator: Hans Holzhacker, Chief Economist, CAREC Institute”
4:10 – 4:30Coffee @ Foyer
4:30 pm – 6:00Session VI: Local Solutions for Climate Resilience

  • Azerbaijan Case Study. Vusala Jafarova, Chief Advisor at the Strategic Planning Division, Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC), Azerbaijan
  • China Case Study. Li Cangshu, Associate Research Fellow and Coordinator of the “Dual Carbon” Project, Center for International Knowledge on Development, China
  • Mongolia Case Study. Tuvshintugs Batdelger, Director, Economic Research Institute, Mongolia
  • Tajikistan Case Study. Jahongir Dehkonov, Director of PO “Fund for Poverty Reduction
  • Turkmenistan Case Study. Mr. Jumamuhammet Geldiyev, Senior Specialist, Division for Financial Analysis of Agro-Industrial Complex, Department for Development and Financing of Economic Sectors
  • Uzbekistan Case Study. Ezoz Ozodov, Manager of the Innovation Cluster for Sustainable Development, “TIIAME” National Research University, Uzbekistan

Open Discussion
Moderator: TBC (AIIB or Craig)”

TimeSession
9:00 am – 9:30 amRegistration
9:30 am – 11:00Session VII: Fixing Climate Finance

  • Bridging Sustainable Financing Gap: Role of Development Partners, Governments, Regulators and Private Finance Entities. Subathirai Sivakumaran, Chief of Section, Financing for Development
  • Section, Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Thailand
  • Financial Solutions to Close the Investment Gap in the Drinking Water and Sanitation Infrastructure of Central Asia. Arman Ahunbaev, Head of the Centre for Infrastructure and Industrial Research, Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), Kazakhstan
  • Scaling up private climate finance: drivers, impediments, and solutions. Shu (Grace) Tian, Senior Economist, Economic Research and Development Impact Department, ADB
  • Financial Innovation: Startups and Financing Green Technologies in the CAREC Region. Ms. Xiaojing Fei, Co-host of Impact Hub Asia-Pacific

Open Discussion
Moderator: Akiko Terada-Hagiwara, Principal Country Specialist, ADB”
11:00 am – 11:20Coffee @ Foyer
11:20 am – 12:30 pmSession VIII: CAREC Think Tank Voices

Panel Discussion on Navigating Political and Business Landscape: Achieving Financial Sustainability and Fostering Institutional Growth
  • Suat Beylur, Director, Eurasian Research Institute, Kazakhstan
  • Abid Suleri, Executive Director/Advisory Council Committee Member of COP29, Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Pakistan
  • Mr. Shahin Sadiqov, Director, Economic Scientific Research Institute, Azerbaijan
  • Mariam Lobjanidze, Acting Lead Economist, ISET Policy Institute, Georgia
  • Dr. Indira Satarkulova, Acting Director, OSCE Academy in Bishkek

Open Discussion
Moderator: Kuat Akizhanov, Deputy Director II, CAREC Institute”
12:30 pm – 1:00 pmCTTN Progress Report

CTTN Progress and Initiatives by the Secretariat
Dilraba Adil, Planning Specialist, CAREC Institute

Suggestions and Feedback on CTTN
Moderator: (From CI or Khalid)
1:00 pm – 1:10 pmClosing Reflections and Acknowledgements by Dr. Jingjing Huang, Deputy Director, CAREC Institute
1:10 pm – 2:30 pmLunch

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