WHEN: 22-23 April 2026 I WHERE: Astana, Kazakhstan I Official website
Background
The Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (RES 2026) will take place from 22 to 24 April 2026 in Astana, Kazakhstan, representing a landmark moment for environmental cooperation in the region. Convened under the theme "One Region, One Vision, One Future" and organized with the UN as a strategic partner, the summit is designed to transform political commitment into tangible, cross-border action on the climate crisis and broader ecological threats. By bringing together the governments of Central Asia with international organizations, businesses, and civil society, RES 2026 aims to forge a shared agenda for sustainable development, with a particular focus on identifying concrete green-financing needs, accelerating low-carbon technologies, and strengthening environmental resilience across the region.
The significance of the Astana summit is underscored by the formal endorsement it has received from the United Nations. Through UN General Assembly Resolution 78/147 of 19 December 2023, titled “Central Asia facing environmental challenges: strengthening regional solidarity for sustainable development and prosperity,” the UN expressed its full support for the initiative. The resolution recognized climate change as one of the most intricate challenges of the era and called for coordinated regional solutions. With 18 UN agencies co-organizing 27 sessions and 5 workshops, RES 2026 is poised to serve as a permanent platform for high-level dialogue and practical cooperation among governments, international partners, and the private sector.
The EU SWITCH-Asia Programme
Within this high-level landscape, the EU SWITCH-Asia Programme has been a consistent partner in advancing sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and the circular economy (CE) across Central Asia. Through its Policy Support Component, SWITCH-Asia has delivered a series of targeted Technical Advisories (TAs) to the region, working to integrate SCP and CE principles into national climate strategies and green growth frameworks.
At RES 2026, this long-term engagement will culminate in a series of high-impact sessions, with the Programme represented by its Key Expert on Climate Change Policy, Mr. Ranga Pallawala, a recognized expert in integrating circular economy principles into climate policy and nationally determined contributions (NDCs). Mr. Pallawala will not only participate but will actively shape key debates, co-moderating a landmark session and speaking at two others.
Launching the Central Asia Circular Economy Partnership Framework
Event: High-level session “Scaling Up Circularity: Regional Cooperation to Close the Loop” and the Launch of the Central Asia Circular Economy Partnership Framework
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Date & Time: 22 April 2026, 14:00 – 15:45
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Venue: Burabay Hall, 2nd Floor, Congress Centre
The Central Asia Circular Economy Partnership Framework, developed by the EU SWITCH-Asia Programme in close partnership with several international development partners and through extensive consultation with Central Asian countries, is set to be officially launched. Mr. Ranga Pallawala will co-moderate the event, guiding discussions on how regional cooperation can effectively “close the loop” on resource use, reduce waste, and build resilient, low-carbon economies.
Climate Finance and Private Sector Session
Event: Climate Finance and Private Sector Session
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Date & Time: 23 April 2026, 11:15 – 13:00
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Venue: Turkistan Room, 1st Floor, Congress Centre
In this session, Mr. Pallawala will speak on a topic central to the summit’s financing goals: how to attract investment by leveraging the circular economy-linked climate ambition targets of Central Asian countries. Building on the outcomes of a SWITCH-Asia Technical Advisory that focused on integrating SCP and CE into climate and green growth strategies across the region, the discussion will explore concrete ways to de-risk investments and channel private capital into sustainable projects.
Showcasing Green Technologies and Climate Solutions
Event: Demand for Green Technologies and Climate Solutions (Industry Demand Forum) – “GreenTech Connect: Who is Buying Green Technologies?”
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Date & Time: 23 April 2026, 14:00 – 18:00
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Venue: Hall 3-4, 2nd Floor, IEC “Expo”
The final session will bring together industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers to discuss the market for green technologies. Mr. Pallawala’s intervention will center on the role of Circular Economy (CE) and Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in the context of Climate Change and Green Growth, with a specific focus on Best Available Technologies (BAT). This session will provide a platform to explore practical pathways for scaling up clean technology adoption and creating demand for sustainable solutions.
Link of the summit's overall Programme - https://res2026.kz/program
