The Ministry of Finance of Kyrgyzstan has not allocated a single som for protection of ecology of Kyrgyzstan this year. The head of the Ministry of Natural Resources Dinara Kutmanova announced at a meeting of the parliamentary committee on agrarian policy, water resources, ecology and regional development.
According to her, in 2022, the budget received 1,700 billion soms from the relevant department. But not a single som has been allocated for environmental protection.
«I ask for support from the deputies when considering the World Bank project for $50 million. We launched it this year. For some reason, the Ministry of Finance does not want to approve it now and wants to use this $50 million for other needs,» the official said.
She noted that the state should change its attitude to the environment and domestic financing mechanisms should work in the country.
«Grants are good, of course. Climate and ecology are very well funded. But at the same time, when creating international funds, international institutions always require an internal contribution. Until this mechanism works, it will be hard for me to prove our commitment to the climate agenda on the international platform. If we give the budget 1,700 billion soms, then at least 30 percent should be directed to environmental protection,» Dinara Kutmanova added.
