The Islamic Organization for Food Security together with Turkic states advance the climate and land restoration agenda at the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana

Within the framework of the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana, a high-level panel session entitled “Comprehensive measures to combat climate change, land restoration, and biodiversity conservation to ensure food security and sustainability (advancing synergy within the Rio de Janeiro Conventions framework) was held. The discussion focused on climate change, land restoration, biodiversity conservation and food security.

The session was organized by the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) in cooperation with the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of the Republic of Türkiye. The discussion brought together representatives of government bodies, international organizations and the expert community to explore practical measures to strengthen the resilience of the agricultural sector to climate change.

The agricultural sector of the Republic of Kazakhstan is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including land degradation, water scarcity and increasing climate risks. In this context, there is a growing need to implement comprehensive and coordinated solutions at both national and regional levels, including through the application of successful practices and adapted technologies developed in the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which have previously faced similar challenges and are successfully addressing them.

Particular attention was given to cooperation within the framework of the three Rio Conventions — the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) — especially in light of upcoming global discussions on these international platforms. It was noted that land restoration serves as a key instrument for enhancing climate resilience, conserving biodiversity and fostering sustainable ecosystems.

Key speakers at the event included Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of Türkiye Mr. Hasan Suver, Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia Mr. Munkhtamir Batbayar, Director General of IOFS Ambassador Berik Aryn, Secretary General of the OTS Mr. Kubanychbek Omuraliev, as well as Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity Ms. Astrid Schomaker.

Following the meeting, participants emphasized the importance of expanding practical measures aimed at strengthening agricultural resilience, promoting innovative technologies and enhancing international cooperation.