Paper abstract:

Abstract

The legal response to climate change in Central Asian countries is still in its early phases, albeit moving quickly. All regions have adopted climate change soft law mechanisms such as adaptation and mitigation strategies, plans of action for implementing policies, and sectoral action plans. However, Central Asian countries have not passed substantive climate change legislation. Instead, they have incorporated mitigation and adaptation goals into national development strategies, mainstreamed the issue across sectors, and implemented related targets that support climate change-related activities financially. In the region, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan have more consistent legislative and policy responses to climate change.

This study reveals that while countries' mitigation frameworks are generally more advanced, adaptation strategies have improved in recent years. Furthermore, this paper discovers that regional institutions are increasingly involved in developing and implementing climate change policies, with some subnational engagement as well. The financial allocation makes policy execution difficult. Finally, due to the significant implications of climate change in the region, this research proposes that adaptation laws with adequate funding mechanisms should be implemented.