The Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (RES 2026)

Factsheet on the Regional Ecological Summit

Overview

The Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (RES 2026), taking place in Astana on 22–24 April 2026, will convene heads of state, senior policymakers, international organisations, financial institutions, and experts to advance coordinated responses to environmental and climate challenges in Central Asia. Hosted by the Government of Kazakhstan in partnership with the United Nations and international stakeholders, the Summit is designed as a high-level platform for aligning regional priorities, strengthening cooperation, and promoting practical solutions across interconnected systems of water, energy, land, and food.

By bringing together political leadership, technical expertise, and financing partners, the Summit will focus on translating shared challenges into coordinated policies, targeted investments, and scalable cross-border initiatives.

 

General Information

• Dates: 22–24 April 2026
• Location: Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan
• Host: Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• Partners: United Nations, alongside regional and international organisations, development partners, and financial institutions

Format

• High-level plenary sessions at head-of-state level
• More than 20 thematic and country sessions focused on policy coordination and practical solutions
• Multi-stakeholder platform bringing together policymakers, experts, financial institutions, private sector representatives, and civil society

Participants

• Heads of state and senior government representatives from Central Asia and partner countries
• Leaders of international organisations and United Nations agencies
• International financial institutions and development partners
• Scientific community, private sector, civil society, and youth representatives

Key Speakers

Political leadership

• Kassym-Jomart Tokayev – President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• Shavkat Mirziyoyev – President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
• Emomali Rahmon – President of the Republic of Tajikistan
• Vahagn Khachaturyan – President of the Republic of Armenia
• Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh – President of Mongolia

Multilateral / institutional leadership

• Li Junhua – United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs
• Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu – Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
• Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus – Director-General of the World Health Organization
• Celeste Saulo – Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization
• Doreen Bogdan-Martin – Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union

Media Partnership

• CNN serves as an official media partner of the Regional Ecological Summit 2026

Why the Summit Is Taking Place

Rising Environmental Pressures in Central Asia

• Central Asia is facing accelerating environmental challenges, including water scarcity, glacier retreat, land degradation, and biodiversity loss.
• These pressures are compounded by climate change, increasing demand for natural resources, and the legacy of outdated infrastructure and management systems.

Implications for Economic Stability and Human Security

• Environmental risks are increasingly shaping the region’s economic resilience, food and energy systems, and long-term development prospects.
• Water stress and shifting climate patterns are affecting agriculture, industrial output, and cross-border resource management.

Need for Regional Coordination

• Many of these challenges are transboundary in nature, requiring coordinated responses across national borders.
• Existing approaches remain fragmented, limiting the effectiveness of national-level policies and investments.

From Dialogue to Implementation

• While environmental cooperation has featured in regional discussions, there is a growing need to move toward practical, coordinated action.
• The Summit is designed to provide a platform to align policies, mobilise resources, and advance joint initiatives at the regional level.

Objectives of RES 2026

Strengthening Regional Cooperation

• Enhance coordination among Central Asian countries and international partners on climate and environmental priorities.
• Support the development of shared approaches to managing transboundary resources and environmental risks.

Mobilising Finance and Investment

• Identify the region’s green financing needs to support climate adaptation and environmental protection.
• Facilitate engagement with international financial institutions and development partners to unlock investment.

Advancing Practical Solutions

• Promote the deployment of low-carbon technologies and sustainable resource management practices.
• Support the development of scalable, cross-border projects addressing shared environmental challenges.

Aligning Policy and Implementation

• Encourage greater alignment between national policies, regional frameworks, and international development strategies.
• Strengthen mechanisms for translating policy commitments into coordinated, measurable outcomes.

Supporting Long-Term Resilience

• Contribute to building more resilient energy, water, and food systems across the region.
• Reinforce the region’s capacity to respond to environmental risks and adapt to changing climatic conditions.

Key Themes

Climate Resilience and Adaptation

• Strengthening regional capacity to respond to climate-related risks, including extreme weather events, drought, and shifting environmental conditions.
• Promoting adaptation strategies tailored to the region’s specific geographic and climatic vulnerabilities.

Water, Land, and Food Systems

• Addressing the interdependence of water resources, land use, and agricultural production.
• Improving efficiency and sustainability in resource management across sectors critical to regional stability.

Energy Transition and Natural Resources

• Supporting the transition toward lower-carbon energy systems while ensuring energy security.
• Enhancing sustainable management of natural resources, including minerals and ecosystems.

Green Finance and Implementation Mechanisms

• Exploring tools and frameworks to support the financing of climate and environmental initiatives.
• Strengthening institutional and policy mechanisms required to deliver large-scale projects.

Technology, Innovation, and Knowledge Sharing

• Promoting the use of digital solutions, data systems, and innovation to improve environmental management.
• Encouraging collaboration between governments, research institutions, and the private sector.

Significance of the Summit

A First-of-Its-Kind Regional Platform

• Represents one of the most comprehensive efforts to convene Central Asian countries around a shared environmental agenda at head-of-state level.
• Establishes a structured forum for sustained engagement on climate and sustainability issues.

Bridging Regional and Global Agendas

• Connects Central Asia’s environmental priorities with broader international climate and sustainable development frameworks.
• Enhances the region’s visibility and engagement within global environmental governance processes.

Advancing Practical Regional Cooperation

• Moves beyond high-level dialogue by focusing on coordination, joint problem-solving, and implementation pathways.
• Supports the development of more integrated approaches to shared environmental challenges.

Strengthening Multi-Stakeholder Engagement

• Brings together public, private, and international actors within a single platform.
• Facilitates collaboration across policy, finance, science, and technology communities.

Positioning Central Asia as a Collective Actor

• Reinforces the region’s role as an emerging actor capable of addressing transboundary challenges through cooperation.
• Demonstrates the potential of regional approaches in managing complex environmental systems.

Environmental Initiatives and Achievements of Kazakhstan

Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Restoration

• Recovery of the Saiga antelope population from near collapse to several million, one of the world’s largest wildlife restoration successes
• Reintroduction of the Przewalski’s horse into native steppe habitats
• Ongoing programme to restore the Caspian tiger ecosystem in Central Asia

Land Restoration and Desertification Response

• Partial restoration of the North Aral Sea following the Kok-Aral Dam, improving water levels, fisheries, and local climate conditions
• Large-scale land rehabilitation and anti-desertification programmes across arid and semi-arid regions
• National afforestation programme, including large-scale tree planting to improve carbon absorption and land stability

Flagship Conservation Initiatives

• Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative recognised with Prince William’s Earthshot Prize for steppe ecosystem restoration and species protection
• Sites such as Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan are recognised globally for their ecological importance, particularly for migratory bird habitats
• Integrated approach combining habitat restoration, wildlife conservation, and community engagement

Water Systems and Regional Cooperation

• Active engagement in stabilisation of regional water systems, including cooperation related to the Caspian Sea
• Policy focus on sustainable management of transboundary water resources and long-term water security

Green Economy and Climate Policy

• Adoption of a national Green Economy Strategy focused on resource efficiency, emissions reduction, and sustainable development
• Commitment to carbon neutrality by 2060
• Expansion of renewable energy capacity, particularly in wind and solar

Green Finance and Sustainable Investment

• Astana International Financial Centre Green Finance Centre supporting green bonds and ESG investment frameworks
• Growing role in mobilising capital for climate and environmental projects

International Environmental Leadership

• Hosting of Expo 2017 Astana, focused on sustainable energy, advancing global dialogue
• Active participation in UN-led environmental and climate initiatives

Источник : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-ljubljana/press/news/details/1204335?lang=kk