Regional Environmental Summit 2026 opens in AstanaThe Regional Environmental Summit 2026 opened Wednesday in Astana with a focus on a shared vision for a resilient future in Central Asia, according to the Central Asian Climate Fund, one of the event's organizers."The summit aims to shape comprehensive policies and tools for the protection, restoration, and shared use of ecosystems, water and land resources, as well as biodiversity conservation across Central Asian countries," the fund said in a statement.Participation has been confirmed by the heads of state of Central Asian nations, the presidents of Armenia, Georgia, and Mongolia, the prime minister of Azerbaijan, as well as leaders from UN agencies including UNDP, FAO, UNECE, UNEP, WHO, WMO, UNESCO, and UNICEF. Representatives of major international organizations such as the OSCE, ECO, OECD, OTS, SCO, EEC, ICESCO, and CICA, along with financial institutions including the ADB, EBRD, World Bank, and Islamic Development Bank, are also in attendance."Official delegations from 15 countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Belarus, Italy, Germany, Georgia, Cambodia, China, Mongolia, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Croatia, and Japan, are expected, offering a platform for a series of bilateral talks on a broad range of issues," the statement noted.The summit opened with a plenary session featuring heads of state and leaders of international organizations.The program is structured around eight priority areas: supporting climate transition; adaptation and economic resilience to environmental and natural risks; food security and the region's ecosystem; sustainable management of natural resources; combating air pollution and waste management; mechanisms for achieving environmental ambitions; a just and inclusive transition; and environmental and digital competencies.Organizers said the summit agenda includes 58 events, comprising 17 high-level meetings, four Central Asian country sessions, and 37 thematic roundtables, conferences, and seminars.Consultations on establishing an International Water Organization within the UN structure are also scheduled.Outcome documents include a joint declaration by Central Asian heads of state titled "Environmental Solidarity of Central Asia," reflecting political will to deepen cooperation in environmentally sustainable development, as well as a Regional Program of Action with UN agencies for 2026–2030.A total of 51 documents are expected to be signed during the summit, including 13 memoranda, 16 joint statements, agreements, and declarations, 16 regional and country initiatives, and six investment projects.Complementing the summit is the RES 2026 EXPO, an international exhibition of green technologies running from April 22 to 24. The expo features country pavilions from Central Asian nations and Azerbaijan as an observer state, bringing together around 300 companies from 30 countries. Organizers expect approximately 20,000 visitors over the three-day event. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX