On February 16, 2026, the official launch of the project “De-risking Investments in Low-Carbon Solutions in Public Buildings of the Kyrgyz Republic” took place in Bishkek. The project is being implemented with the support of the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
The project was launched by the Community Development and Investment Agency of the Kyrgyz Republic (ARIS) in partnership with the Climate Finance Center under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic. The initiative aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the energy efficiency of public buildings through the introduction of low-carbon solutions and the development of sustainable financial mechanisms.
Nurlan Abdyshev, Manager of the Project Preparation Facility at the Climate Finance Center, noted that the project’s key objective is to create a scalable model capable of reducing barriers to investment in energy efficiency and decarbonization, ensuring a transparent financial structure, and delivering a measurable contribution to the implementation of national climate commitments.
The initiative is particularly relevant amid increasing climate risks. According to expert forecasts, by 2090 the average annual temperature in Kyrgyzstan could rise by up to 5.3°C, leading to increased pressure on infrastructure and growing demand for resources. Public buildings account for around 10% of the country’s total energy consumption, with a significant share related to heating based on solid fuels. Many of these buildings were constructed between the 1950s and 1980s, resulting in high heat losses and low comfort levels.
Other barriers identified include limited access to long-term financing, insufficient coordination between institutions, and the need to strengthen institutional and technical capacity.
The project, with a proposed budget of USD 25 million for GCF approval, will be prepared by a team of consultants from E Co (United Kingdom) and UNISON Group (Kyrgyzstan). The initiative covers all regions of the country, and the expected climate impact is estimated at up to 698.5 thousand tons of avoided CO₂ emissions. The project plans to introduce energy efficiency solutions in 40 public buildings across the republic.
“Success will mean the implementation of real energy efficiency measures and the emergence of fully modernized buildings. This is about creating a system for future projects, not only one-time investments. ARIS is an accredited entity for direct access to GCF financing. The project should become a catalyst for launching other similar initiatives,” noted Asel Mambetalieva, Deputy Director of ARIS.
The event brought together representatives of government agencies from all forty districts of the republic. During group discussions, participants provided recommendations that will be taken into account in the preparation of the GCF application for attracting grant financing for the implementation of the project.
