From April 22 to 24, 2026, Astana will host one of the region’s key environmental events – the Regional Environmental Summit (RES 2026) .

Around 1,500 delegates from Central Asian and other countries, as well as representatives of international organizations, business, and the scientific community, will arrive in the capital of Kazakhstan,  DKNews.kz reports .

The summit’s main goal is not just discussion, but the search for concrete solutions to the most pressing environmental challenges: climate change, water resource degradation, sustainable management of natural resources and, most importantly for the region, land degradation.

Why is this important for Central Asia?

Land degradation is one of the most serious environmental threats in Central Asia today. Arid climates, intensive agriculture, desertification, and climate change are leading to soil depletion, declining crop yields, and loss of biodiversity.

Simply put, this is not just about the environment – ​​it is a question of food security, agricultural sustainability, and the economic stability of millions of people.

This is why one of the key themes of RES 2026 will be climate-smart land use – an approach in which agricultural and land management practices take climate risks into account and help reduce carbon emissions.

From the President’s initiative to regional dialogue

The initiative to hold the summit in partnership with the UN was announced by the Head of State during the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in 2023. This idea is now being put into practice.

RES 2026 is intended as a platform for uniting countries in the region around concrete steps—from technology exchange to the development of common standards and policies.

Special Panel: Combating Degradation and Carbon Agriculture

The Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, together with JSC Zhasyl Damu and the State Enterprise GIPROZem, plan to hold a special panel session dedicated to:

• strengthening cooperation between Central Asian countries;
• restoration of degraded soils;
• development of carbon agriculture;
• implementation of modern land management practices.

Carbon farming is a method that not only increases soil productivity but also accumulates carbon in the soil, thereby reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions. For a region with large agricultural areas, this can be a strategic advantage.

Joint Statement of the Central Asian Countries

The summit plans to adopt a Joint Statement by government agencies of Central Asian countries on combating land degradation, soil restoration, and the development of carbon agriculture.

The draft document has already been developed by the Committee for Land Resources Management of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan and will soon be submitted for consideration to countries in the region.

The statement is expected to form the basis for:

• regional coordination;
• launching joint initiatives;
• attracting investment in sustainable land management;
• formation of unified approaches to land resource management.

Kazakhstan as a regional center for climate resilience

Experts note that hosting RES 2026 in Astana strengthens Kazakhstan’s position as a regional leader in climate policy and sustainable development.

If the decisions made are implemented, the summit could become not just an international forum, but a starting point for a new environmental agenda for Central Asia.

And in the context of accelerating climate change, the region has practically no time left to get going.

Google machine translated