This project is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag.

This report presents key findings from an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of existing institutional frameworks for strategic planning of sustainable infrastructure in eight countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan). It also provides an inventory of infrastructure projects, both planned and under construction, in the region, with the objective of assessing the extent to which infrastructure plans are consistent with long-term development, climate and environmental objectives.

Most economies of Central Asia and the Caucasus The report covers five former Soviet republics of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) plus Mongolia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. have seen unprecedented growth over the past two decades, reaping benefits of market reforms and taking advantage of relatively high commodity prices in hydrocarbon and metals. As they are now looking at diversifying their economies and integrating to global value chains to protect themselves from commodity price volatility, their existing infrastructure underperforms in its role to support inclusive economic development and connectivity in the region after decades of underinvestment (see ).

This chapter presents the regional situation of infrastructure investments in Central Asia and the Caucasus, including the gap between growing infrastructure needs and sluggish investment flows, and the resulting challenges for trade integration and regional connectivity. It describes regional infrastructure development initiatives, including the CAREC corridors and the Belt and Road Initiative, and their potential role in improving connectivity. The chapter also discusses the role of private sector investments and the climate change-related risks and opportunities of current infrastructure investment patterns. Lastly, it presents the makeup of current infrastructure investments in eight countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan), focusing on the transport and energy sectors.

This chapter describes sustainable infrastructure planning in Azerbaijan and presents current trends in investment in large-scale infrastructure projects. It compares Azerbaijan’s infrastructure plans in the energy, transport, industry and water sectors against its international commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chapter also explores Azerbaijan’s strategic documents for long-term economic development, sectoral development and the environment, including those related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. It identifies misalignments between stated goals and observed investment flows and provides recommendations to improve strategic planning for sustainable infrastructure.

This chapter describes sustainable infrastructure planning in Georgia and presents current trends in investment in large-scale infrastructure projects. It compares Georgia’s infrastructure plans in the energy, transport, industry and water sectors against its international commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chapter also explores Georgia’s strategic documents for long-term economic development, sectoral development and the environment, including those related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. It identifies misalignments between stated goals and observed investment flows and provides recommendations to improve strategic planning for sustainable infrastructure.

This chapter describes sustainable infrastructure planning in Kazakhstan and presents current trends in investment in large-scale infrastructure projects. It compares Kazakhstan’s infrastructure plans in the energy, transport, industry and water sectors against its international commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chapter also explores Kazakhstan’s strategic documents for long-term economic development, sectoral development and the environment, including those related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. It identifies misalignments between stated goals and observed investment flows and provides recommendations to improve strategic planning for sustainable infrastructure.

This chapter describes sustainable infrastructure planning in the Kyrgyz Republic and presents current trends in investment in large-scale infrastructure projects. It compares the Kyrgyz Republic’s infrastructure plans in the energy, transport, industry and water sectors against its international commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chapter also explores the Kyrgyz Republic’s strategic documents for long-term economic development, sectoral development and the environment, including those related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. It identifies misalignments between stated goals and observed investment flows and provides recommendations to improve strategic planning for sustainable infrastructure.

This chapter describes sustainable infrastructure planning in Mongolia and presents current trends in investment in large-scale infrastructure projects. It compares Mongolia’s infrastructure plans in the energy, transport, industry and water sectors against its international commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chapter also explores Mongolia’s strategic documents for long-term economic development, sectoral development and the environment, including those related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. It identifies misalignments between stated goals and observed investment flows and provides recommendations to improve strategic planning for sustainable infrastructure.

This chapter describes sustainable infrastructure planning in Tajikistan and presents current trends in investment in large-scale infrastructure projects. It compares Tajikistan’s infrastructure plans in the energy, transport, industry and water sectors against its international commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chapter also explores Tajikistan’s strategic documents for long-term economic development, sectoral development and the environment, including those related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. It identifies misalignments between stated goals and observed investment flows and provides recommendations to improve strategic planning for sustainable infrastructure.

This chapter describes sustainable infrastructure planning in Turkmenistan and presents current trends in investment in large-scale infrastructure projects. It compares Turkmenistan’s infrastructure plans in the energy, transport, industry and water sectors against its international commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chapter also explores Turkmenistan’s strategic documents for long-term economic development, sectoral development and the environment, including those related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. It identifies misalignments between stated goals and observed investment flows and provides recommendations to improve strategic planning for sustainable infrastructure.

This chapter describes sustainable infrastructure planning in Uzbekistan and presents current trends in investment in large-scale infrastructure projects. It compares Uzbekistan’s infrastructure plans in the energy, transport, industry and water sectors against its international commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chapter also explores Uzbekistan’s strategic documents for long-term economic development, sectoral development and the environment, including those related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. It identifies misalignments between stated goals and observed investment flows and provides recommendations to improve strategic planning for sustainable infrastructure.

This annex provides an initial stocktake of sustainable infrastructure initiatives, to raise awareness amongst policy-makers, infrastructure planners and decision-makers on the variety of tools, instruments and techniques available to help them better integrate the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as climate and development goals into their strategic infrastructure planning and decision-making. This annex is by no means comprehensive, but aims to showcase the variety of tools and instruments available to governments for integrating sustainability into infrastructure decision-making. It also shows that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and it is essential to tailor instruments to the specificities of each country, including institutional capacity. Navigating the complexity of international standards and norms requires targeted technical assistance and capacity-building programmes, in line with the specific needs and capacity of recipient countries.