Regional Environmental Summit opens in Astana

ArmInfo.  The first Regional Environmental Summit (RES), the largest environmental event in Central Asia, has opened in Astana. The Kazakh capital has brought  together representatives of regional states, international  organizations, financial institutions, and the expert community.

The RES, which is being held under the theme "A Shared Vision for a  Sustainable Future," aims to develop comprehensive policies and tools  for the protection, restoration, and shared use of ecosystems, water,  and land resources, as well as the conservation of biodiversity in  Central Asian countries.

The goal of the summit is to develop joint solutions that reflect a  regional approach to overcoming environmental challenges. These  challenges require cooperation between governments, international and  financial organizations, as well as the scientific and business  communities. The summit is attended by the heads of state of Central  Asia, the presidents of Armenia, Georgia, and Mongolia, the Prime  Minister of Azerbaijan, as well as heads of UN agencies (UNDP, FAO,  UNECE, UNEP, WHO, WMO, UNESCO, UNICEF, etc.), leading international  organizations (OSCE, ECO, OECD, JTG, SCO, EEC, ISESCO, CICA, etc.),  and financial institutions (ADB, EBRD, World Bank, Islamic  Development Bank). Official delegations from 15 countries are  expected to attend (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Belarus, Italy,  Germany, Georgia, Cambodia, China, Mongolia, Russia, Serbia,  Slovakia, Croatia, and Japan), creating the opportunity to use the  RES platform to conduct a series of bilateral negotiations on a wide  range of issues.  The substantive part of the summit is structured  around eight priority areas: supporting climate transition;  adaptation and economic resilience to environmental and natural  risks; Food security and the region's ecosystem; sustainable  management of natural resources; combating air pollution and waste  management; mechanisms for achieving environmental ambitions; a just  and inclusive transition; and environmental and digital competencies.

The RES program includes 58 events, including 17 high-level events,  four Central Asian country sessions, and 37 thematic meetings in the  form of roundtables, conferences, and seminars. The RES program also  includes consultations on the establishment of an International Water  Organization within the UN.  Participation is expected by heads of  water agencies of UN member states, agencies implementing the UN  water mandate, and research institutes.

Among the outcome documents, noteworthy is the joint declaration of  the Central Asian heads of state, "Environmental Solidarity of  Central Asia," reflecting the political will to deepen cooperation in  the field of environmentally sustainable development, as well as the  Regional Action Program with UN agencies (2026-2030). A total of 51  documents are planned to be signed within the framework of the RES,  including 13 memoranda, 16 joint statements, agreements, and  declarations, 16 regional and country initiatives, and six investment  projects.

The RES was organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural  Resources of Kazakhstan jointly with the UN and several international  organizations at the initiative of the President of Kazakhstan.