Practical steps to combat climate change in Central Asia to be discussed at CACCC-2026

Within the framework of the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (hereinafter – RES), which will take place in Astana on 22–24 April, the 8th Central Asian Climate Change Conference (hereinafter – CACCC-2026) will be held. The event will bring together representatives of government agencies of the countries of the region, international organizations, financial institutions, the private sector, the scientific community, and civil society.
According to the World Bank, climate change and extreme weather events have already led to an average reduction of GDP in Central Asian countries by 5.5%. The key factors include the increasing frequency of droughts, floods, and other climate shocks. Without urgent adaptation measures, crop yields in the region may decline by up to 30% by 2050, posing a serious threat to food security and rural incomes. In addition, climate change could force around 5.1 million people to leave their homes by 2050 due to water scarcity, declining agricultural productivity, and recurring natural disasters.
Since 2018, CACCC has served as a platform for developing coordinated regional approaches and discussing practical solutions aimed at strengthening the resilience of Central Asian countries to climate risks. The conference also contributes to attracting investments for the implementation of climate mitigation measures and projects, as well as for adapting the economies and populations of the region to its impacts.
CACCC-2026 will be organized by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (hereinafter – CAREC) in cooperation with the governments of the countries of the region and international partners.
The theme of this year’s conference — “Public-Private Partnership” — is aimed at achieving concrete outcomes within the framework of the meeting: from the signing of partnership agreements between representatives of the public and private sectors to the launch of joint climate projects and investment platforms for financing initiatives to reduce emissions, conserve natural resources, and improve the environmental situation in Central Asian countries.
By 2025, countries updated their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), including measures on emission reduction and climate adaptation (NDC 3.0), under the Paris Agreement, moving into the phase of active implementation of their international climate commitments. Participants of CACCC-2026 will pay particular attention to the implementation of updated NDCs at the national level.
Priority topics of the conference will also include the development of regional cooperation in adaptation, landscape restoration, climate risk management, and renewable energy development.
An important focus will be the discussion of mobilizing climate finance with active involvement of the private sector, as well as expanding access of the countries of the region to new global mechanisms. 
Participants will also discuss measures to combat desertification and restore landscapes, manage climate risks, and implement initiatives to reduce methane emissions across various sectors. 
A separate objective of the event is the joint preparation of Central Asian countries for the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), to be held in November 2026, where key international decisions, agreements, and financial mechanisms in this field will be adopted.