Central Asian countries to strengthen cooperation on air quality improvement

Within the framework of the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (hereinafter – RES), which will take place in Astana on 22–24 April, the second High-Level Regional Dialogue on air quality policy in Central Asia will be held. The event will bring together ministers of environment from the region and international partners to develop a coordinated agenda on air quality.

​The meeting, organized by the National Committee of Uzbekistan on Ecology and Climate Change, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Bank, will take place on 23 April. It will be attended by heads of environmental authorities of Central Asian countries, representatives of Azerbaijan and Japan, as well as international and financial organizations. Remarks are expected from the UN Deputy Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNEP, Inger Andersen, and the World Bank’s Global Director for Environment, Valerie Hickey.

Air pollution remains one of the most pressing environmental and public health challenges in Central Asia. It is driven by common, often transboundary sources such as fossil fuel combustion, transport, industry, agriculture, as well as increasingly frequent sand and dust storms. Despite progress made by Central Asian countries in strengthening national air quality management systems, the regional nature of the problem requires enhanced intergovernmental cooperation.

The upcoming dialogue will build on discussions initiated during the first meeting held in Tashkent in 2024. It is expected that the establishment of a Central Asian Intergovernmental Coalition on Air Quality will be officially announced. Initiated by Uzbekistan, the new coalition is intended to serve as a platform for coordinating regional efforts to combat transboundary air pollution, exchange experience, and develop joint solutions.

The session will be guided by United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) Resolution 6/10 on regional cooperation for improving air quality and will be linked to the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP). Discussions will also be informed by findings from the Environmental Performance Review (EPR) for Central Asia and a new World Bank regional report on air quality in Central Asia.