Shared Ecological Agenda of Central Asia: Launch of the Regional Environmental Performance Review Process

As part of the Regional Ecological Summit, a ministerial roundtable was held on the topic: “Shared Ecological Agenda of Central Asia: Launch of the Process for Preparing the Regional Environmental Performance Review (REPR).”

The roundtable aimed to identify priority ecological issues for the Regional REPR, strengthen political commitment, and reach consensus on mechanisms for regional cooperation, financing, and implementation. These measures are intended to support a just, inclusive, and sustainable green transition in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and international ecological commitments.

The event marked an important step in shaping a coordinated regional approach to addressing key ecological challenges, including climate change, water scarcity, glacier melting, and land degradation, all of which have a direct impact on the economic resilience and food security of countries in the region.

The roundtable also marked the official launch of the Regional Environmental Performance Review process initiated by the countries of Central Asia. In 2025, ministers from four Central Asian countries formally requested the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) to conduct a Regional Environmental Performance Review (REPR) to address these shared and transboundary challenges through a coordinated and science-based regional approach. This multilateral ministerial-level roundtable officially launched the REPR process.

During the discussions, participants presented preliminary findings on the region’s ecological priorities, based on REPR analytical materials, and identified key directions for the upcoming review.

“In recent years, a strong spirit of cooperation has emerged in Central Asia, along with a growing understanding that actions taken at the national level alone do not produce the desired effect. Therefore, today it is crucial to consolidate efforts of countries around shared challenges,” said Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nyssanbayev in his remarks. He emphasized the importance of uniting all neighboring countries in addressing ecological issues, as these challenges do not recognize borders and affect the economies of all states.

The event was organized by the Secretariat of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe with the support of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in Kazakhstan.

Following the roundtable, participants confirmed political endorsement for the launch of the Regional Environmental Performance Review of Central Asia. They highlighted the significance of this process as a tool for strengthening regional cooperation, improving the effectiveness of ecological policies, and advancing sustainable development in the region.