On April 3, 2026, the Seventh Meeting of Heads of Ministries and Agencies of SCO Member States responsible for environmental protection was held in the city of Bishkek. Kazakhstan was represented by Vice Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Nurken Kurmalaev.
Prior to the meeting, the delegations of SCO countries took part in a symbolic tree-planting ceremony at the Ala-Archa State Nature Park, demonstrating their shared commitment to ecosystem restoration and the principles of sustainable development.
During the meeting, participants discussed the current state and future prospects of environmental cooperation in the region. In his remarks, N. Kurmalaev noted that over its 25 years of existence, the SCO has established itself as an effective platform for building trust, fostering mutually beneficial cooperation, and jointly addressing modern challenges.
The Kazakh side also informed partners about the upcoming Regional Environmental Summit to be held on April 22–24, 2026, in the city of Astana. The event will include a high-level special session on “SCO–UNEP Environmental Partnership: Joint Actions for a Sustainable Future of the Region”, with all SCO member states invited to participate.
Following the meeting, the parties approved an initiative to improve air quality, and agreed to continue work on projects related to the conservation and sustainable management of Eurasian biodiversity, including a joint action plan for 2026–2031.
The meeting concluded with the signing of a Joint Statement and Protocol.
In addition, a bilateral meeting was held between Vice Minister Kurmalaev and the Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, A. Toktobaev. The parties reaffirmed the importance of strengthening both bilateral and multilateral cooperation to effectively address environmental challenges in Central Asia.
📌 Source: Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan
