A roundtable discussion on the role of parliamentary diplomacy in implementing the climate agenda and prospects for sustainable development in Central Asia was chaired by Maulen Ashimbayev, Speaker of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Held as part of the Regional Environmental Summit (RES 2026), the event brought together the leadership of the OSCE PA, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, Senate members, experts, staff from research and think tanks, relevant institutes, and members of the Senate Experts Club.
Welcoming the roundtable participants, the Speaker of the Senate emphasized that overcoming the grave legacy of the 20th century's environmental disasters—the Aral Sea tragedy and the consequences of the nuclear tests in Semey—has remained a priority of state policy since the first days of independence. Today, Kazakhstan is transforming this experience into the active implementation of national initiatives to decarbonize the economy, introduce green energy, conserve water, and effectively combat desertification.
"At the initiative of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the country is implementing the "Taza Kazakhstan" program, which aims to foster environmental awareness, increase public responsibility, and promote sustainable development principles. Kazakhstan is consistently advancing the climate agenda not only at the national, but also at the regional and global levels. The establishment of the UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan is an important step in this direction. The President of Kazakhstan also proposed the creation of a specialized International Water Organization under the auspices of the UN. This initiative aims to strengthen institutional coherence, reduce duplication of functions, and prioritize the water agenda at the international level," said Maulen Ashimbayev.
He also noted that the climate agenda has become the central theme of the Regional Environmental Summit (RES 2026), echoing the OSCE PA 2025 declaration, which recognized environmental challenges as a key security risk. According to him, the final declaration, "Environmental Solidarity in Central Asia," aims to find practical solutions, from digitalization to partnerships with UN institutions. In this process, the Speaker assigned a special role to parliaments, which must ensure legislative support and oversight of the implementation of agreements reached, transforming political initiatives into functioning legal mechanisms.
In this regard, Maulen Ashimbaev outlined a number of priority tasks, emphasizing the key role of parliamentary diplomacy in advancing the climate agenda and implementing significant projects.
"First of all, in the context of the President of Kazakhstan's initiative to establish an International Water Organization, a joint Action Plan could be developed between the Parliaments of Central Asian countries and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, aimed at strengthening cooperation in water resources management. Furthermore, we believe it is important to intensify cooperation on harmonizing environmental and climate legislation in the region's countries, with the involvement of international experts. Developing environmental education and engaging youth in sustainable development activities is also an important area," the Senate Speaker noted, praising the work of the OSCE and its Parliamentary Assembly in strengthening dialogue and trust between participating States and addressing pressing issues in the Eurasian region.
During the discussion, it was noted that the rapid melting of glaciers and the reduced flow of the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers, coupled with growing agricultural needs, pose a direct threat to water and food security in Central Asia. The Senate Speaker emphasized that the scale of these risks requires immediate coordinated action, as environmental degradation directly undermines economic stability and quality of life in the region.
The roundtable was also attended by OSCE PA President Pere Joan Pons, OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella, and UN Deputy Secretary-General Haoliang Shu. Presentations were made by Bakyt Dzhusupov, Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities; Zulfiya Suleimenova, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Azai Guliyev, Chair of the OSCE PA General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology, and Environment, Member of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Bakhtiyor Pulatov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Ecology and Environmental Protection of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Angelos Syrigos, Member of the Greek Parliament; and Nurken Sharbiyev, Vice Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Following the roundtable discussion, participants emphasized the importance of expert support for environmental initiatives and expressed their readiness to continue constructive dialogue.
The RES 2026 Regional Environmental Summit, which will run until April 24, began today and brings together approximately 1,500 participants from government agencies in the region, international organizations, development institutions, the expert community, businesses, and civil society. The initiative was announced by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in 2023 and reaffirmed at the 80th session in 2025. The forum aims to develop regional solutions to climate and environmental challenges in partnership with the United Nations.
(Press Office of the Senate, 74-72-27. Photo by: N.Baibullin)
