Mongolia Presents Three Environmental Initiatives at Astana Summit
President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa attended the opening of the Regional Ecological Summit being held in Astana as part of his State Visit to Kazakhstan.
Mongolia is participating in the summit with three initiatives focused on water, pastureland management, and nature-based solutions.
Participants are discussing eight priority themes, including support for climate transition, adaptation to climate and natural risks, economic resilience, regional ecosystems and food security, sustainable natural resource management, air pollution and waste management, mechanisms for implementing environmental goals, a just and inclusive transition, and the environment and digital transformation.
The summit is expected to define joint policies and strategies to respond to water shortages, glacier and ice melt, desertification, and air pollution, while also promoting cooperation among governments, the private sector, and international organizations in green finance, green technology, and sustainable investment.
Addressing the opening session, President Khurelsukh thanked President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for hosting the summit and said the meeting would make an important contribution to overcoming global challenges such as climate change, desertification, and water scarcity through collective action. He noted that at a time when implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals remains insufficient globally, Mongolia is actively advancing its “Billions of Trees” national movement to reduce land degradation and restore forests.
The president also called for cooperation under Mongolia’s initiative of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists to raise recognition of the sector and promote sustainable pasture management, restoration, investment, and food security.
He said Mongolia would work closely to implement proposals and recommendations emerging from the summit.
President Khurelsukh also invited countries to actively participate in the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, to be held in Ulaanbaatar in August under the theme “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope.” He also invited countries to send delegations to the World Women Parliamentarians Conference, which will be held in October.
President Tokayev first announced Kazakhstan’s plan to host the Regional Ecological Summit in 2026 while addressing the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2023.
About 1,500 representatives are attending the summit, including heads of state and government as well as senior officials from Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Russia, China, Italy, Germany, and Japan.
Representatives of the United Nations, international organizations, banks and financial institutions, including the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, as well as researchers, civil society, businesses, and media are also participating.
More than 50 cooperation documents, including joint statements, declarations, agreements, initiatives, investment projects, and programs, are expected to be signed at the summit, according to the Presidential Office.
