The initiator of holding an environmental forum of such a scale was President Kassam-Jomart Tokayev during the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in 2023. Two years later, the head of state returned to this topic again, noting that 2024 had become the hottest in the history of mankind and if efforts are not made to solve these problems, in the near future not only the Central Asian region, but also the entire world may face water shortages and famine.
In 2025, the initiative to hold the summit received further development – within the framework of the Astana International Forum and the opening of the UN Regional Center for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan.
The main feature of the meeting is the participation of the leaders of the countries, which emphasizes the high level and importance of the environmental and climate issues discussed.
On the eve of the event, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, the President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan, the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov and the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdymukhamedov arrived in the capital of Kazakhstan. Yesterday they were joined by Georgian President Mikhail Kavelashvili, Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
A total of official delegations from 15 countries are expected to arrive – Azerbaijan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Belarus, Italy, Germany, Georgia, Cambodia, China, Mongolia, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Croatia, Japan, allowing the RES platform to be used to conduct a series of bilateral negotiations on a wide range of issues.
The main objective of the event is to develop practical solutions to overcome the environmental and climate challenges facing the region and the world.
The work of the forum will begin with a plenary session with the participation of heads of state and heads of international organizations. Before the start of the event, the participants took a joint commemorative photo.
The content of the meeting is built around eight priority areas:
- support for the climate transition;
- adaptation and economic resilience to environmental and natural risks;
- food security and the ecosystem of the region;
- sustainable management of natural resources;
- combating air pollution and waste management;
- mechanisms for achieving environmental ambitions;
- just and inclusive transition;
- environmental and digital competencies. The RES program includes 58 events, of which 17 are high-level, 4 regional sessions for Central Asia and 37 thematic meetings in the form of round tables, conferences and seminars. The program also includes consultations on the establishment of an International Water Organization within the UN structure. Heads of water departments of UN member states, agencies implementing the UN water mandate, and research institutes are expected to participate.
Among the final documents, it should be noted the joint declaration of the heads of state of Central Asia “Environmental Solidarity of Central Asia“, reflecting the political will to deepen cooperation in the field of environmentally sustainable development, as well as the Regional Action Program with UN agencies (2026-2030).
In total, the signing of 51 documents is planned within the framework of RES, including 13 memoranda, 16 joint statements, agreements and declarations, 16 regional and national initiatives, and 6 investment projects.