On 1 August 2025, the city of Aktau hosted a meeting of Central Asian ministers of environmental agencies to prepare for the 2026 Regional Environmental Summit.
The meeting was attended by heads of environmental agencies from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as representatives of international organizations — UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan Sarango Radnaaragcha, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan Katarzyna Wawiernia, and UNECE Sustainable Energy Committee Director Dario Liguti. COP29 President, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan for Climate Affairs Mukhtar Babayev, delivered a welcome address.
The session presented and discussed the updated Concept of the 2026 Regional Environmental Summit, along with a draft Joint Declaration of the Heads of State of Central Asia on regional cooperation in ecology and sustainable development. Participants exchanged proposals and agreed on approaches for further joint work.
Special attention was given to developing a list of regional initiatives for inclusion in the Summit’s final agenda. These cover a broad range of areas — green technology development, climate innovation, biodiversity protection, and ecosystem restoration, including measures for the preservation of the Aral Sea. Discussions also addressed climate change adaptation, water resource management, circular economy development, and promotion of sustainable development standards.
As part of the event, a Green Startup Exhibition was held, featuring participants of the GCIP Kazakhstan Green Acceleration Program. Innovative projects in energy efficiency, waste recycling, rational resource use, and environmentally friendly technologies were showcased, all capable of contributing to the region’s “green” economy today.
The parties confirmed their readiness to continue joint preparations for the Regional Environmental Summit, scheduled to take place in April 2026 in Astana.
Source: Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan
