Dear Minister Yerlan Nyssanbayev,

Qadirli ministers, hanymdar men myrzalar!

It’s my honor to welcome you on behalf of UNDP Kazakhstan as we shape the vision for the Regional Environment Summit 2026.

Today, climate change is no longer an abstract threat — it defines the reality we live in. The past seven years were the warmest on record. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024, the greatest threat over the next decade is extreme weather. We are nearing dangerous tipping points for ecosystems, health, and development.

Central Asia is on the front lines. Temperatures are rising at twice the global average. Glaciers are shrinking, desertification is accelerating, and water shortages are deepening. In Kazakhstan, historic floods in March 2024 — the worst in 80 years — exposed the grave risks posed by rising temperatures and melting snow. The Aral Sea crisis remains one of the most profound ecological disasters of our time, driven by environmental mismanagement. It continues to affect health, biodiversity, and regional stability. These realities demand coordinated, long-term action.

UNDP is proud to stand beside Kazakhstan in facing these challenges. For over three decades, our partnership has focused on the sustainable development path of Kazakhstan, including green agriculture, biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and transparent climate reporting. We have supported the development of national strategies — including Kazakhstan’s Development Strategies 2030 and 2050, Carbon Neutrality Strategy, the Law on Renewable Energy, and the Green Economy Transition. Our expertise has shaped key legislation — from the Environmental and Water Codes to frameworks for sustainable forest and biodiversity use. More importantly, our collaboration has delivered results. Since 2017, UNDP-supported tools have mobilized over $713 million in climate-aligned investments. Kazakhstan has issued more than $253 million in green bonds and loans, laying a robust foundation for climate action. UNDP helped launch the first sovereign green bonds, developed a green taxonomy, and supported the integration of green finance into Kazakhstan’s NDCs.

Regionally, UNDP Kazakhstan has played a convening role. In March, we hosted the first consultation in Almaty. In May, we gathered Finance and Economy Ministers in Astana — for the first time — to explore joint climate financing. These steps paved the way for a shared regional climate finance strategy and an investment pipeline we can build on.

Dear colleagues,

In an era defined by complexity — climate, nature, and pollution crises overlapping — no country or institution can face these threats alone. We must work across borders, sectors, and institutions to ensure that solutions reach the places and people that need them most.

The Regional Environment Summit 2026 offers a strategic platform to translate vision into action. Kazakhstan’s role as host sets the tone for Central Asia’s leadership in global processes.

Let us use today to align our efforts, share ideas, and forge partnerships that will carry our region forward. The stakes are high, but so is the potential to shape a climate-resilient future — for our people, our ecosystems, and the generations yet to come.

Kop rakhmet.