Astana, 23 April 2026 – As part of the programme of the Regional Ecological Summit, the Republic of Kazakhstan and Secretariat of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), supported by the Azerbaijani Chairmanship, hosted a high-level side event titled "Global Climate Change and Sustainable Development in the CICA Region".
The meeting was held in a hybrid format with the participation of 17 CICA Member States and two regional organizations. Demonstrating an interconnected approach to common challenges, the discussions included active engagement of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) and the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS).
Addressing the gathering, Representative of the President of Azerbaijan on climate issues Mukhtar Babayev reaffirmed the Azerbaijani Chairmanship’s commitment to strengthening CICA’s environmental dimension.
Building on seamless continuity between the Chairmanships of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in advancing regional climate goals, Mukhtar Babayev highlighted Chairmanship’s plans to foster international partnerships, specifically the intention to propose observer status for CICA at the UNFCCC, while further working with Member States to elevate the Organization’s global visibility in environmental forums.
From Kazakhstan’s part, Vice-Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan Mansur Oshurbayev reaffirmed the country’s commitment to collective efforts and offered Kazakhstan as a central platform for CICA Member States to exchange best practices, conduct joint scientific research, and train environmental specialists to ensure sustainable development across Asia.
A central topic of the event was the pragmatic shift in regional diplomacy. Echoing the vision of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev voiced at the RES, CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay underlined that the organization is moving beyond broad declarations to formalize environmental responsibility as a core pillar of regional cooperation. Consequently, CICA is transitioning to systemic regional policies that ensure long-term sustainability and security.
Underlining that CICA’s consensus-based model is essential for regional cooperation, Member States unanimously recognized the organization as the premier platform for bridging national environmental priorities with global sustainable development goals.
This collective recognition was further evidenced by China showcasing its green transition while announcing its plans to host CICA Roundtable on Urban Ecological Security in late 2026. Similarly, Kyrgyzstan complemented this schedule of regional dialogue by inviting Member States to the Second Global Mountain Summit in Bishkek next year, framing the event as a key milestone of the country’s UN-designated initiative "Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions"
Building on the foundation of the 2024 CICA Ministerial Conference on Environmental Issues, Member States reaffirmed their commitment to implementing high-level pledges regarding biodiversity, glacier preservation, and sustainable water management. The framework established by the 2024 High-Level Statement remains the primary action guide for deepening regional environmental cooperation.
As a vital "bridge" for Asian perspectives, CICA is synchronizing regional priorities with the UN 2030 Agenda to convert political commitments into practical cooperation across its 28 Member States. Following the outcomes of COP29 and the 2025 glacier preservation event in Dushanbe, CICA is now synchronizing a unified regional voice for a series of upcoming global milestones: the UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia this August, followed by the 2026 UN Climate Change Conference (COP 31) in Türkiye in November, and the UN Water Conference in the UAE in early December 2026.
