From Saving the Aral Sea to ‘Green Schools’: Central Asian Youth Unite to Tackle Climate Crises at the RES-2026 Summit
ASTANA, 11 March 2026 – Next month, more than 100 young eco-activists and leaders from Kazakhstan and across Central Asia will join forces to address the climate crisis. On 24 April 2026 in Astana, a special youth workshop titled ‘Future Ecosystem: Children and Youth as Architects of Sustainable Development’ will take place as part of the Regional Environmental Summit (RES-2026).
UNICEF is organizing the event together with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Education.The workshop will provide a unique platform for regional environmental dialogue. Around 150 participants – including young people aged 16 to 25 from across Central Asia, United Nations experts, business representatives, and government officials – will develop practical solutions to protect the environment.
Dr. Rashed Mustafa Sarwar, UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan, stated:
“Children and young people will live with the consequences of today’s climate decisions. At UNICEF, we aim to provide them with a platform to ensure their voices are heard at the highest levels. By bringing together youth from across Central Asia, we are investing in a sustainable and secure future for the entire region.”
One of the key discussion areas will focus on the Regional Green Schools Platform (RGSP). Stakeholders view ‘green school’ development as a foundation for building environmental awareness. Participants will explore how to transform educational institutions into centers of sustainable development, where children not only learn about climate change but also apply resource-efficient technologies in practice and acquire green skills for future careers.
In addition to schools, young delegates will work in interactive formats to develop solutions in water resource management, forest conservation, circular economy development, and the use of artificial intelligence to address climate challenges.
At the end of the workshop, youth teams will present their projects to a high-level jury. Organizers expect the outcomes to form the basis of a youth declaration, which will be integrated into the final documents of the Regional Environmental Summit (RES-2026).
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About the RES-2026 Summit
The Regional Environmental Summit (RES-2026) will take place in Astana from 22 to 24 April 2026 and will bring together approximately 1,500 delegates from around the world. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan, first proposed the initiative to hold the summit in partnership with the United Nations during the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The summit will focus on addressing urgent environmental challenges, including climate change adaptation and a just regional transition to a sustainable economy.
More information: https://res2026.kz/
About UNICEF
UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, especially the most disadvantaged children and in the toughest places to reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive, and fulfil their potential.
For more information, visit www.unicef.org.
