Key areas of RES 2026 have been defined
As of today, eight main thematic areas of the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (hereinafter – RES), which will take place in Astana on 22–24 April, have been identified. The architecture of the international event has also been approved, providing for two meetings with the participation of Heads of State, 21 high-level sessions with ministers and heads of international organizations, as well as country sessions.
The Summit is organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the support of the United Nations.
The following main thematic areas of the RES have been defined:
- Adaptation and economic resilience to environmental and natural risks;
- Combating air pollution and waste management;
- Mechanisms for achieving environmental ambitions;
- Supporting the climate transition;
- Food security and the region’s ecosystems;
- Just and inclusive regional transition;
- Sustainable management of natural resources;
- Environmental and digital competencies for a sustainable future.
At the level of Heads of State, two events are planned within the RES: a plenary session and a meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the founding countries of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea.
The plenary session is expected to be attended by United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Inger Andersen, Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Musonda Mumba.
The RES is also expected to be attended by heads of environmental authorities from Central Asian countries, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Iran, China, Mongolia, Pakistan, and Slovakia; executive directors and representatives of UN organizations; secretaries-general and heads of international organizations (CIS, ICESCO, SCO, CICA, OTS, ECO, CAREC, ITU and others); as well as representatives of international financial institutions: the World Bank, the Green Climate Fund, the Asian Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Within the RES, the Central Asian Climate Change Conference will be held, along with high-level sessions such as: the meeting of EU+CA ministers of environment, water, and energy; ministers of environment of SCO+UNEP; ministers of environment of OTS; ministers of environment of CICA; ministers of environment of ECO; ministers of water resources of Central Asia; WHO with ministers of health of Central Asia; UNICEF with ministers of education of Central Asia; and a high-level dialogue on the Caspian Sea.
In total, more than 40 different events are planned within the RES.
In addition, an international exhibition of green technologies will be held at the “EXPO” International Exhibition Center. Five Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan have been invited to present national pavilions, and around 160 companies from more than 20 countries are expected to participate.