Kazakhstan’s Youth to Discuss Climate Change

At the end of August, Astana will host the Local Conference of Youth on Climate Change in the Republic of Kazakhstan 2026 (LCOY Kazakhstan 2026), with the support of the Central Asian Climate Fund (CACF). The conference aims to strengthen young people’s capacity in climate change, international climate negotiations, and the development and implementation of climate projects.

The conference will take place on 28–29 August 2026 at Nazarbayev University, bringing together representatives of government institutions, civil society organizations, experts, and young people from across Kazakhstan.

The event is organized by the student organizations Climate for Us and Sustainable Development Solutions Network Youth Kazakhstan (SDSN Youth Kazakhstan) in partnership with the Central Asian Climate Fund (CACF), with the support of Nazarbayev University, Narxoz University, NU Impact Foundation, and UNICEF Kazakhstan.

Conference Objectives

The conference aims to:

● provide young people in Kazakhstan with an inclusive and accessible platform to exchange experiences, ideas, and initiatives related to climate change and environmental protection;

● strengthen the national youth climate network through educational workshops, training sessions, and capacity-building programs;

● support the establishment and development of student organizations in Kazakhstan working on climate change, environmental protection, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);

● raise youth awareness of international climate negotiations, with a particular focus on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement, and the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31), to be held in Antalya, Türkiye;

● foster intergenerational collaboration among young people, civil society organizations, and government institutions to advance climate action and climate adaptation.

Over the course of the two-day conference, participants will attend 10 thematic sessions covering a wide range of climate-related topics.

Expected Outcomes

The conference is expected to result in:

● the drafting and publication of the National Youth Statement on Climate Change, reflecting the perspectives and recommendations of Kazakhstan’s youth on climate action and the implementation of the country's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0);

● the establishment of a knowledge-sharing and capacity-building platform connecting 80 young participants from all regions of Kazakhstan;

● the creation or launch of 5–10 student organizations or youth-led initiatives working in the fields of climate change, environmental protection, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).