From April 22 to 24, 2026, Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, in partnership with the United Nations, will host the first Regional Ecological Summit, bringing together national leaders, heads of international organizations, and experts to discuss environmental and water resource issues, the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources announced.
According to the organizers, the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (RES 2026) is aimed at establishing an open platform for the development of joint and practical solutions to climate and ecological challenges, bringing together a broad range of countries, regions, and partners, and demonstrating, through the example of Central Asia, how interregional cooperation strengthens global efforts.
RES 2026 will bring together the countries of Central Asia—working in partnership with the United Nations and other international organizations—to develop shared solutions to climate change and broader environmental challenges. The summit will place particular emphasis on identifying the region’s concrete green-financing needs to support adaptation measures, accelerate the deployment of low-carbon technologies, and strengthen environmental resilience across Central Asia.
The summit expects approximately 1,500 participants from Central Asia, the European Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Middle East to discuss eight key topics:
- Adaptation and economic resilience to environmental risks
- Food security and regional ecosystems
- Sustainable management of natural resources
- Combating air pollution and waste management
- Mechanisms for achieving environmental ambitions
- Just and inclusive transition
- Environmental and digital competencies
- Support for the climate transition.
It is expected that the summit will adopt a joint declaration of the heads of state of Central Asia.
The summit was initiated by Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2023.
Speaking at the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Turkmenistan in 2025, Tokayev invited the Conference participants to attend the first Regional Ecological Summit that will help strengthen joint efforts in addressing climate change. “Many developing countries without access to the sea are facing water scarcity, glacier melt, desertification, and other extreme weather events. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated regional efforts and strong international support,” said the Kazakh president.
