At the Regional Environmental Summit in Astana, the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, outlined measures regarding water security, energy, and ecosystem conservation. In his speech, he emphasised practical solutions and regional cooperation.
KEY ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES FOR THE REGION
The countries of Central Asia face a number of common problems: water scarcity, desertification, melting glaciers, and air pollution.
The President noted that the issue is not just about the climate, but about the basic conditions of life:
‘It is about clean air and safe water, healthy soil, and a reliable food system’
According to him, such challenges require joint solutions and cooperation at the regional level.
WATER SECURITY AND THE ARAL SEA
Considerable attention in the speech was devoted to water resource issues.
The President stressed that water security is of key importance for the region, and the experience of the Aral Sea remains a testament to the consequences of unsustainable policy.
Kazakhstan has managed to restore approximately 36% of the Northern Aral Sea, leading to improved water quality and increased fish stocks.
It was also proposed to create an International Water Organisation under the auspices of the UN, the first round of consultations for which is taking place during the summit.
ENERGY AND EMISSIONS REDUCTION
Kazakhstan plans to increase the share of renewable energy sources to over 15% by 2030.
At the same time, emissions from major energy facilities are expected to fall by approximately 35% thanks to modernisation and the introduction of new technologies.
The President emphasised that the transition to ‘green’ energy must take into account the level of development of each country:
‘The global transition to more environmentally friendly models must be fair, balanced, and incentivising’
BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION
The conservation of biodiversity was identified as one of the key areas of environmental policy.
In Kazakhstan, an increase in the population of rare species, including the snow leopard, has been recorded, and programmes to restore other animals are being implemented.
In recent years, more than 1.5 billion trees have been planted across an area of over one million hectares, including on the dried-up bed of the Aral Sea.
NEW INITIATIVES AND TECHNOLOGIES
Among the proposals is the creation of a regional digital ecosystem using artificial intelligence to address environmental challenges.
Kazakhstan also initiated measures to protect the Caspian Sea and to develop scientific cooperation in this field.
The President stressed that the environmental agenda requires joint action. Thus, the speech presented initiatives aimed at developing environmental policy and regional cooperation.