EU launches green initiative for universities in Central Asia!

EU launches green initiative for universities in Central Asia!

On May 9, 2025, the European Union will launch a groundbreaking initiative called the “Green Deal Initiative for Central Asian Universities” (GDCAU). This programmatic measure aims to promote climate protection in Central Asia. The kick-off workshop will take place on May 12th and 13th at the Constructor University in Bremen and represents the first step towards cooperation between European and Central Asian universities. A total of 13 universities from Europe and Central Asia are involved in this project, including institutions from Germany, Austria, Slovakia as well as from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. This initiative will be funded through the Erasmus+ program over the next three years, providing significant financial support for the development of sustainable education strategies.

The GDCAU aims to promote sustainable innovation, reform curriculum and strengthen green leadership in higher education. Participants will work on a joint strategy to align higher education strategies with the EU goal of climate neutrality by 2050. The workshop includes more than 60 participants, including speakers and representatives from leading institutions, and will be opened by Professor Thomas auf der Heyde, Vice President of Constructor University.

Long-term climate strategy and cooperation

A key component of the GDCAU is the development of a comprehensive three-year roadmap that will include university-specific activities and strategies to implement Green Deal initiatives. This plan includes four key work packages: establishing a Green Deal Center for Research and Education, updating curricula at Central Asian universities, developing a new master's degree program and strengthening collaboration between academia, industry, governments and civil society.

The EU is also committed to reducing net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. To achieve this, billions in funding were made available from the Horizon Europe program, which is intended to drive systemic changes to achieve climate neutrality and an ecological transformation. According to information from research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu, 73 projects have been selected as part of the Green Deal Call to contribute to the EU's response to the climate crisis. Over 35% of Horizon Europe's spending is explicitly earmarked for action on climate change.

Central Asian challenges and EU engagement

The challenges of climate change are of enormous importance for Central Asia. Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, points out the significant impact of climate change in this region. Average annual temperatures have risen by 0.5 degrees Celsius over the past 30 years, and forecasts suggest temperature increases of up to 4 degrees Celsius. These climatic changes are already leading to droughts and water shortages, which are putting considerable strain on the ecosystems in Central Asia.

To address these challenges, the EU is committed to building effective regional cooperation in Central Asia. The EU-Central Asia Platform for Environment and Water Cooperation, launched in 2009, acts as a central forum for this cooperation. Another meeting of this working group will take place on February 12 and 13 in Brussels to discuss continued cooperation in the field of environment and climate change.

The GDCAU initiative is considered strategically important for the Constructor University and is intended to help promote global change through education and research. Collaboration within this initiative has the potential not only to reform academic structures, but also to make a concrete contribution to combating the urgent climate crisis.

For more information about the initiative and its goals, read the detailed report on Constructor University. Further background information on the European Green Deal can be found at European Commission and the role of the EU in Central Asia Representation of the European Commission in Germany.