One region, one vision, one future

The Regional Ecological Summit 2026 was initiated by President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to bring Central Asian countries together in partnership with the United Nations to develop shared solutions to climate change. This is more than a single event – it is a two-year preparatory process launched in 2024 and culminating in a high-level Summit held in Astana on 22–24 April 2026, where coordinated environmental initiatives and mechanisms for regional cooperation were presented.

The Summit has received broad support from international partners, including the United Nations, the Secretariats of the three Rio Conventions – the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) – as well as UNECE, UNDP, UN-Habitat, UNEP, UNICEF, UNFPA, FAO, UNESCO, UNIDO, WMO, ILO, OECD, IEA, IRENA, ADB, the World Bank, IWMI, SWITCH-Asia, and other organizations. Notably, the United Nations expressed its support through UN General Assembly Resolution 78/147 of 19 December 2023, “Central Asia Facing Environmental Challenges: Fostering Regional Solidarity for Sustainable Development and Prosperity.”

Support for the initiative has also been reflected in key political documents adopted at the level of Heads of State, including:

• the Karabakh Declaration of the Informal Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (6 July 2024, Azerbaijan);

• the Joint Statement of the Sixth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia (9 August 2024, Kazakhstan);

• the Bishkek Declaration of the Eleventh Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (6 November 2024, Kyrgyz Republic).

In 2025, the initiative gained further recognition during the Astana International Forum, the opening ceremony of the UN Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan with the participation of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (Turkmenistan).

The initiative is reflected in the concept of «Bir Tamyr» (Same Root). The word «Tamyr» exists in almost all languages of the region and carries a profound meaning: roots as a symbol of common history and connection to nature, veins as the symbol of pulse and movement within the region, the intertwining of vessels, spirit, and culture. It is a metaphor for connection, resilience, and shared heritage that unites Central Asia not by political borders, but by meaning, memory, and future.

The visual representation of the countries of Central Asia is reflected in the Summit emblem (logo): different in shape, color, and character, yet standing together as a symbol of unity in diversity. The reference to the barcode shape also symbolizes a common space for dialogue and action, modern approaches, innovations, and the technological nature of solutions.

The Summit reflects this image: one region – shared challenges – collective action. It brought together governments, international organizations, the scientific community, business, civil society, and youth to lay the foundation for a shared, environmentally sustainable future.

The Summit in numbers:

• more than 11,300 visits;

• 58 key sessions, including 21 high-level sessions and 4 country sessions of the Central Asian states;

• the plenary session was addressed by the Presidents of the Central Asian countries, Armenia, Georgia and Mongolia, and the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan; the United Nations was represented at a high level by Mr. Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Ms. Inger Andersen, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNEP, and Ms. Tatiana Molchan, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of UNECE.

Key outcomes:

• the Declaration of the Heads of State of Central Asia “Ecological Solidarity of Central Asia” was adopted; it reflects the initiative of the President of Kazakhstan to establish an International Water Organization within the UN structure, and supports the creation of an International Fund for the Protection of Rare Species and Biodiversity, an Interstate Programme for the conservation of the water resources of the Caspian Sea, and the proclamation of the International Day of Greening the Planet;

• the countries of the region signed the Regional Declaration on Biodiversity Conservation; at Kazakhstan’s initiative, the resolution “Green Shield of Central Asia” was signed;

• the Programme of Action for implementing regional environmental initiatives in partnership with the UN for 2026–2030 was supported, including the Regional Investment Portfolio on Ecology and Climate, the Regional Environmental Performance Review, a framework document on nature-based solutions, a framework partnership programme on the circular economy, and the regional “Green School” platform;

• a Framework Agreement on strategic cooperation between the Government of Kazakhstan and UNEP was concluded, providing for a Regional Environmental Hub in Almaty; a Memorandum of Understanding on the country investment platform for Kazakhstan’s energy transition “QaJET” was signed by the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and the EBRD;

• at the “RES 2026 EXPO” green technology exhibition, 17 documents worth over USD 2.3 billion were signed, mainly in renewable energy, waste management, industrial decarbonization and fertilizer production;

• in total, RES 2026 adopted and announced 17 investment memoranda and agreements, 25 thematic memoranda of cooperation, declarations, resolutions and joint statements, and 16 regional initiatives and projects.