LocationsCentral Asia unites for climate action: high-level dialogue in Astana builds momentum toward COP30
May 29, 2025
A high-level panel session, “COP30 and the Future of Global Climate Action,” was convened at the Astana International Forum with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan, in partnership with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The event served as a platform to discuss national climate commitments, financing needs and coordinated action, among Central Asian countries ahead of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), to be held in November 2025 in Belém, Brazil.
In his opening remarks, the UN Under-Secretary-General and UNDP’s Associate Administrator Haoliang Xu called for higher ambition and increased finance as essential building blocks for fair and sustainable climate action.
“Ahead of COP30, we must unite to turn political pledges into real transformative action,” Haoliang Xu said. “Drawing on six decades of development experience, UNDP continues to play a key role in supporting countries through on-the-ground expertise, partnerships and innovation. We help align national priorities with global climate goals — from developing and delivering NDCs to mobilizing investments and building climate-resilient institutions.”
The session brought together Central Asian Ministries of Economy and Finance, international financial institutions, and development partners for a dialogue on financing the region’s ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0). Discussions focused on overcoming barriers to affordable climate finance, exploring innovative financial instruments and promoting coordinated investment strategies. The session also aimed to structure climate finance needs and develop a regional investment proposal for the UN-led Regional Climate Summit in 2026.
This year also marks a decade since the adoption of the Paris Agreement – a key framework for global climate cooperation. The speakers emphasized that future NDCs must act as concrete investment plans aligned with socio-economic development, rather than just policy declarations. The Baku–Belém Road Map to US$1.3 trillion, an ambitious initiative to scale up climate finance for developing countries, was also featured in the dialogue.
The session underscored the potential of regional cooperation across Central Asia, sending a clear signal to shift from fragmented efforts to lasting, results-driven partnerships. The outcomes of the session will help lay the groundwork for more coordinated Central Asian engagement ahead of COP30, thereby contributing to global efforts to build a climate-resilient future for both people and planet.
UNDP continues to play a pivotal role in supporting governments to meet today's interconnected climate and development challenges. Kazakhstan has demonstrated leadership by advancing the climate agenda through tangible action and regional cooperation. In partnership with the government and other stakeholders, UNDP is implementing projects across key areas – from ecosystem restoration and energy efficiency to sustainable food systems and national adaptation planning.
