About the summit
The Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (RES 2026) was initiated by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, during the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2023. At the Astana International Forum in May 2025, it was announced that the Summit’s agenda would be expanded from a climate-focused framework to a broader environmental scope.
The United Nations expressed its support to the Summit through General Assembly Resolution 78/147 of 19 December 2023, entitled “Central Asia facing environmental challenges: strengthening regional solidarity for sustainable development and prosperity.”
The initiative was further supported in a number of key political documents adopted at the level of Heads of State in 2024, including:
- the Karabakh Declaration of the Informal Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (6 July 2024, Azerbaijan);
- the Joint Statement of the Sixth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia (9 August 2024, Kazakhstan);
- the Bishkek Declaration of the 21st Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (6 November 2024, the Kyrgyz Republic).
In 2025, the initiative gained further international recognition at the opening ceremony of the UN Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty, Kazakhstan—attended by UN Secretary-General António Guterres—and at the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Awaza, Turkmenistan. RES 2026 aims to bring together the countries of Central Asia — working in partnership with the United Nations and other international organizations—to develop shared solutions to climate change and broader environmental challenges. The Summit will place particular emphasis on identifying the region’s concrete green-financing needs to support adaptation measures, accelerate the deployment of low-carbon technologies, and strengthen environmental resilience across Central Asia. Serving as a regional platform for dialogue and solidarity, RES 2026 will enhance cooperation among governments, international organizations, scientific institutions, and the business community. It will also help raise awareness of priority environmental issues, identify practical solutions, and shape joint action plans to advance the region’s sustainable development.
The initiative is reflected in the concept of «Bir Tamyr» (eng.: same roots). The word «Tamyr» exists in almost all languages of the region and carries a profound meaning: roots as a symbol of common history and connection to nature, veins as the symbol of pulse and movement within the region, the intertwining of vessels, spirit, and culture. It is a metaphor for connection, resilience, and shared heritage that unites Central Asia not by political borders, but by meaning, memory, and future. The visual representation of the countries of Central Asia is reflected in the Summit emblem (logo): different in shape, color, and character, yet standing together as a symbol of unity in diversity. The reference to the barcode shape also symbolizes a common space for dialogue and action, modern approaches, innovations, and the technological nature of solutions. The Summit reflects this image: one region – shared challenges – collective action. It will bring together governments, international organizations, the scientific community, businesses, civil society, and youth to lay the foundation for a shared, environmentally sustainable future.
Preparations for the Summit commenced in 2024 and include a series of regional consultations.
