Central Asian leaders back proposal for UN water agency
Leaders from across Central Asia, alongside representatives from countries including Georgia, Armenia, Mongolia and Azerbaijan, are taking part in discussions on regional environmental priorities.
Initial consultations on the proposed agency are set to begin on the sidelines of the Regional Ecological Summit (RES) in Astana, where regional delegations are expected to outline a shared vision for sustainable water management.
Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev first proposed the initiative in December 2025, during a forum in Turkmenistan's city of Ashgabat.
"This initiative is timely, as the UN is currently reviewing thousands of mandates, creating an opportunity to strengthen coherence and effectiveness in global governance," Tokayev said in his opening address.
Water at the centre of the agenda
Water security has emerged as a central theme of the RES summit, taking place in Kazakhstan's capital until Friday.
A separate high-level meeting is also scheduled between the heads of state of the founding members of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, as Kazakhstan concludes its three-year chairmanship.
"Water security is of critical importance for Kazakhstan and the entire region. Our future depends on managing this vital resource wisely and fairly," Tokayev said.
He noted that around 36% of the Northern Aral Sea has been restored, improving water quality, fish stocks and living conditions.
The Caspian Sea remains another key concern, with water levels declining by around 10 centimetres per year.
Kazakhstan has launched an interstate programme to prevent further degradation and established a dedicated research institute to strengthen regional scientific cooperation, Tokayev added.
He also called for greater international engagement and stressed that any use of military force in the Caspian region "must be excluded."
Common ecological challenges
Water management remains a sensitive issue in Central Asia.
Kyrgyzstan, often described as the region's main "water tower," generates around 50 billion cubic metres of water annually, using only a fraction domestically, with the rest flowing to neighbouring countries including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.
President Sadyr Japarov said Kyrgyzstan plays a crucial role in ensuring regional agricultural, energy and food security.
"For decades, we have maintained water allocation limits while providing storage and release services. Kyrgyzstan ensures the safety of hydraulic infrastructure and invests significant resources in water management. However, we do not receive compensation in the form of fossil fuels," he said.
"Central Asia is facing common ecological challenges, including water scarcity, desertification, glacier retreat, air pollution and biodiversity loss," Tokayev said.
Central Asia is experiencing some of the world’s most acute climate risks, with average annual temperatures rising faster than the global average — from an increase of around +2.1°C in Kyrgyzstan to as much as +1.5°C in Turkmenistan over the past 115 years.
The consequences are already visible. According to UNESCO, glacier coverage in Kyrgyzstan has shrunk by 16% over the past 70 years, while in Tajikistan more than a thousand glaciers have disappeared over the last three decades.
More than 20% of the region’s land, roughly 80 million hectares, is degraded, affecting around 30% of the population.
The region is also grappling with the long-term environmental disaster of the Aral Sea, as well as the rapid decline of the Caspian Sea, where water levels are falling by around 10 centimetres per year, posing risks to biodiversity and international shipping routes.
Green technologies showcase
A key feature of the summit is the RES 2026 International Exhibition of Green Technologies, bringing together around 300 companies from 30 countries.
The exhibition will showcase smart environmental solutions and resource management systems, alongside national pavilions from Central Asian states and Azerbaijan.
Kazakhstan's pavilion highlights biodiversity conservation efforts, including projects to protect the Przewalski’s horse, the saiga antelope and the Turanian tiger, as well as the restoration of the Northern Aral Sea.
With 14 sessions scheduled on the first day alone — covering climate action, sustainability and green finance — organisers hope the summit will translate political commitments into concrete steps towards greater environmental and economic resilience across Central Asia.
The Regional Ecological Summit, a large-scale initiative to develop joint responses to environmental challenges, is being held in partnership with the United Nations. It was first proposed by Tokayev at a UN General Assembly session in 2023.
It is designed to bring together leaders from across Central Asia, together with representatives from countries including Georgia, Armenia, Mongolia and Azerbaijan.
The summit aims to develop a shared policy framework and practical tools for the protection, restoration and sustainable use of ecosystems, water and land resources, and biodiversity conservation.
Among other agreements, a joint declaration on environmental solidarity is expected to be adopted at the event, alongside a regional action programme together with UN agencies for the next five-year period.
