Five representatives from each Central Asian country, representing the departments of environment, energy, industry, agriculture, water resources, labor and social protection, as well as national economy, will take part in the Regional Preparatory Meeting for the 2026 Regional Climate Summit.

The meeting will be held on March 13 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The event is expected to be attended by representatives of international organizations (UNEP, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNDP, IOM, FAO, OSCE, ADB, WB, IFC, EBRD, GIZ) and online connection of representatives of the IEA, OECD, the Center for Sustainable Energy (IRENA), UNFCCC, the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan.

The information on the upcoming event from the Central Asian climate portal centralasiaclimateportal.org notes that climate change is one of the key global threats of our time, significantly affecting the economy, ecology and society of the Central Asian countries. The region is already facing serious climate challenges, including growing aridity, glacier retreat, an increase in the frequency of natural disasters and a decrease in the availability of water resources. The damage from climate disasters in Central Asia is estimated at 10 billion US dollars per year, which requires immediate and coordinated action.

The 2026 Regional Climate Summit is designed to find answers to these challenges, promote the development of strategies and solutions aimed at sustainable development and strengthening regional cooperation. The main goal of the Summit is to consolidate efforts to increase the adaptive capacity of the region and achieve climate goals consistent with the global agenda.

A series of regional consultations are planned for 2025 as a key period in preparation for the Summit. These events will provide countries with an opportunity to identify their priorities, present national initiatives, discuss common challenges and find ways to act together. The first such consultation will be the Regional Meeting scheduled for 13 March, which will be of an introductory nature. It will provide an overview of the current climate challenges and opportunities in the region, as well as national priorities and initiatives. Participants will discuss shaping areas of future cooperation and promoting regional cooperation and dialogue.

The organizers name the following as the expected results of the first regional consultation:

1. Setting priorities: identifying key climate issues and needs for each country
2. Consolidating efforts: preparing proposals for the formation of a single regional climate agenda
3. Strengthening partnerships: establishing contacts between national and international organizations to implement joint efforts.