On April 24, 2026, in Astana, the Scientific and Educational Center “Green Academy”, jointly with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and with the support of international partners: ISTC, UCA, “Caravan Info” News Agency, organized a panel session within the framework of the Regional Environmental Summit (RES) titled: “The Role of the Academic and Scientific Community in Shaping Regional Climate Solutions”.
The session aimed to discuss research by scientists and experts from Central Asia in the field of climate change, particularly in the context of increasing climate risks, water security, glacier melting, and ecosystem degradation. Special attention was given to environmental and climate security and regional resilience, as well as to the development of climate and environmental solutions through the advancement of science, innovation, and digital skills.
Welcoming remarks were delivered by: Mr. Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Mr. Mansur Oshurbaev, Vice Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources; Ms. Sally Axworthy, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Kazakhstan; Dr. Jim Skea, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); and Ms. Charlotte Warakaulle, Director of the United Nations Library & Archives in Geneva.
The session featured the following speakers:
Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary (COMSTECH) (The Role of International Scientific Networks in Addressing Climate Challenges);
Dr. Christopher Gerry, Rector of UCA (Building Regional Climate Innovation and Expert Capacity);
Dr. Bakhyt Yessekina, Member of the Green Economy Council under the President of the RK, Director of the “Green Academy” REC (Institutional Support for the Carbon Market and the National Investment Plan);
Ms. Karina Anguelieva, Executive Director of ISTC (The Role of Scientific Data and International Research Networks in Advancing Climate Technologies);
Mr. Peter Liebelt, Director of the Central Asian Office for Sustainable Development (CASIB) of the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, and Ms. Patricia Romanowski (German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space) ( Germany’s Experience in Climate Regulation and Regional Ecosystem Management);
Dr. Woojin Lee, Professor at Nazarbayev University (Scientific Research on Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) for Climate Change Scenarios in Central Asia).
The event was attended by representatives of the MSHE of the RK and the MENR of the RK, as well as government agencies, universities, and research institutes specializing in ecology, climate, and glaciology; representatives of the business sector and non-governmental organizations; and members of the scientific and academic community from Central Asian countries, foreign governments, international organizations, and research centers, including the IPCC, COMSTECH, UCA, CASIB, ISTC, and Nazarbayev University.
The session served as a starting point for establishing new formats of scientific cooperation, developing innovative projects, and launching initiatives aimed at creating a Regional Climate Hub in Central Asia, focused on integrating science, technology, and environmental policy into decision-making processes.
At the conclusion of the event, memoranda were signed between the “Green Academy” REC and COMSTECH (OIC), UCA, and the Center for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction (CESDRR), aimed at conducting joint research on disaster prevention in the region and developing projects under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
More than 100 participants attended the event in a hybrid format.
The session received informational support from the Caravan Info News Agency.
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