ASTANA – Senior officials and international experts convened this week at the Regional Ecological Summit with a clear and unified message: the global community has a sufficient understanding of its environmental challenges. What is now required is a decisive shift toward results.
Panel session on the future of global climate cooperation. Photo credit: RES “We don’t want to discuss the problems – we know what the problems are. We want to discuss the solutions,” said Zulfiya Suleimenova, Kazakhstan’s ambassador-at-large for the Foreign Ministry, setting the tone for the panel session on the future of global climate cooperation.
She argued that when people see tangible improvements in their quality of life through climate, water and biodiversity action, public engagement with the environmental agenda will deepen rather than diminish. Tomas Lamanauskas, deputy secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union and Zulfiya Suleimenova, Kazakhstan’s ambassador-at-large for the Foreign Ministry.
Photo credit: RES “When we speak about the environment, it is not only about climate. It is one part of a much broader set of challenges,” she said, noting that recent research suggests humanity has already crossed seven of nine planetary boundaries. Suleimenova said Kazakhstan’s approach focuses on both mitigation and adaptation, as well as addressing loss and damage.
She pointed to the country’s efforts to transition toward cleaner energy and reduce methane emissions in the oil and gas sector. She highlighted Kazakhstan’s 2012 legislation banning routine gas flaring as a model for rapid emissions reduction. Since the law took effect, the country reduced flaring more than fourfold, from over 4 billion cubic meters to under 1 billion cubic meters.
“This is a very concrete example of what you can do in a pretty short period of time,” she said. Kazakhstan is now pursuing similar regulations to curb routine venting, with legislation currently under review in the Kazakh Parliament. She noted that the International Energy Agency estimates the country could generate an additional $300 million annually by capturing gas currently flared or vented.
Water security is emerging as another central issue. Suleimenova said even countries not traditionally considered water-scarce are now facing shortages, underscoring the need for stronger global coordination. Kazakhstan is preparing for the upcoming UN Water Conference and has proposed establishing an international water organization within the UN.
“Water has become a unifying factor for Central Asia. It highlights the need for coordinated approaches to water security, climate adaptation and economic modernization,” she said. Suleimenova expressed optimism about Central Asia’s growing role in shaping the global environmental agenda, pointing to a wave of upcoming regional events, including 8th GEF Assembly (Global Environment Facility) in Uzbekistan, a World Urban Forum in Azerbaijan and a biodiversity conference in Armenia.