Final Session of CAKIC-2026: “On the Road to COP31”

The final session of CACCC-2026, titled “On the Road to COP31,” was held in Astana, summarizing the outcomes of the conference and outlining further steps toward forming a consolidated position of Central Asian countries in the context of the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

“Over the past few days, we have once again confirmed that climate change for Central Asia is no longer a matter of distant projections. It is a factor that directly impacts water resources, energy, agriculture, infrastructure, public health, and, overall, the resilience of our development models. For our region, the climate agenda can no longer be treated as a separate ecological domain. It has already become an issue of economic sustainability, regional security, and the quality of public governance and planning”, - noted the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yerlan Nyssanbayev, in his closing remarks.

Following CACCC-2026, there is a strengthened understanding that the region requires more coordinated approaches to water management, adaptation, energy, disaster risk, and resilient infrastructure.

It has also become increasingly evident that Central Asia must accelerate the transition from discussions on targets to issues of implementation, including the quality of project preparation, access to climate finance, the development of investment solutions, and enhanced coordination.

The conference demonstrated a clear demand within the region for closer exchange of experience. While countries have different starting conditions and capacities, many of the challenges are similar, indicating that solutions can be more effectively developed through strengthened regional cooperation.

“For Kazakhstan, conducting CACCC in Astana on the sidelines of the Regional Ecological Summit carries particular significance. It is important that within one week we were able to bring together a high level of political engagement, expert discussion, and partnership dialogue—this in itself is already a result”, - shared Yerlan Nyssanbayev.

This conference is taking place at a particularly specific moment for the global climate process. Geopolitical tensions are increasing, economic pressures are intensifying, and at the same time, climate impacts are accelerating across all regions.

“In this global context, the importance of regional platforms such as this one is significantly increasing. It is here that global commitments are translated into regional realities, and where implementation begins to take shape through cooperation, coordination, and shared priorities,” noted COP29 President and Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Climate Issues, Mukhtar Babayev.

The representative of Azerbaijan highlighted that Central Asia is already experiencing the direct impacts of climate change: glaciers are retreating, water availability is becoming less predictable, and mountain ecosystems are under increasing stress.

At the same time, these challenges are transboundary in nature. They require coordination among countries, policy alignment, and, increasingly, joint approaches to investment and infrastructure.

“We must be candid: the scale of the challenge requires stronger support. Developed countries must step up their efforts by providing predictable and accessible financing, expanding technological cooperation, and ensuring clear and transparent fulfillment of their commitments under the Paris Agreement,” emphasized Mukhtar Babayev.

During the session, participants were presented with and approved the final resolution of CACCC-2026, reflecting the key political, institutional, and investment outcomes of the conference. Particular attention was given to issues of regional coordination, mobilization of climate finance, and the advancement of joint initiatives in the field of sustainable development.