Kazakhstan will host the Regional Ecological Summit this April. The high-level event will address areas like climate transition, adaptation, and economic resilience; food security; sustainable management of water resources; and combating air pollution. This is a great opportunity for Kazakhstan to consolidate its regional leadership by addressing Central Asian and Eurasian environmental challenges. For the Summit to truly have an impact, however, it must include tangible programs and policies, not just conceptual talking points. Water security is a sensitive issue for landlocked Central Asia. Climate change, population growth, and the mismanagement of water resources make the Summit even more important and timely, as water resources need to be protected and responsibly shared.

The loss of the Aral Sea is a cautionary tale about a worst-case scenario, particularly if Central Asian governments do not work together. Hence, the upcoming Summit must conclude with projects and agreements to protect another regional body of water that is gradually shrinking: the Caspian Sea. The idea for the Summit was first raised at the Astana International Forum (AIF) in 2023: Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed holding a Regional Climate Summit in Kazakhstan in 2026 under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations. The goal of the high-level meeting would be to facilitate dialogue and find adequate solutions to climate change, the head of state explained at the time.

The Summit will have eight key areas, including the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources. A critical focus of the event will be the Aral and Caspian Seas, with discussions of “joint efforts to protect ecosystems, preserve biodiversity, manage water resources, and address the environmental challenges of the Aral and Caspian Seas.” Moreover, the expected outcomes include joint climate action decisions, a regional finance mechanism, new transboundary projects, the launch of a Regional Program to support ecological research, strengthened interstate cooperation, and a common framework for implementing environmental solutions across the region.

Preparations are underway: on August 1,........

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