From Soviet ecological scars to regional hope: Kazakhstan hosts Central Asia’s first major ecological summit

Once the fourth-largest lake on Earth, the Aral Sea now stands as a haunting symbol of environmental catastrophe. Its dramatic shrinkage, triggered by Soviet-era irrigation projects that diverted the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers for cotton production, has left behind a toxic desert known as the Aralkum.

Dust storms carry millions of tons of salt, pesticides, and heavy metals across the region each year, fuelling respiratory diseases, cancers, and economic collapse in surrounding communities. Decades after the Soviet Union’s collapse, this man-made disaster – alongside shrinking Caspian Sea levels, melting glaciers in the Tien Shan and Pamir mountains and widespread desertification – continues to threaten the livelihoods of millions in Central Asia.

Next week, from 22 to 24 April, Kazakhstan will attempt to turn the page on these inherited crises by hosting the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (RES 2026) in its capital, Astana. Initiated by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and organized in partnership with the United Nations, the gathering aims to forge a shared regional response under the theme “One Region, One Vision, One Future.” With around 1,500 participants expected – including government leaders from the five Central Asian states, international organizations, scientists, businesses, and civil society – the summit seeks to move beyond talk toward coordinated practical solutions on climate adaptation, water management, green finance, and environmental resilience.

The timing could hardly be more urgent. Central Asia is warming at roughly twice the global average, accelerating glacier melt that feeds the region’s vital river systems. Water scarcity is intensifying competition between upstream hydropower producers like Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and downstream agricultural users in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. The Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland body of water, is also receding due to a mix of climate-driven evaporation, reduced river inflow, and human activity, threatening biodiversity, fisheries, and coastal infrastructure. Experts warn that without joint action, parts of the region risk becoming less habitable in coming decades, potentially displacing millions.

Many of these challenges trace directly back to Soviet policies. The “Virgin Lands” campaign of the 1950s and 1960s turned vast steppes into grain fields but caused severe soil erosion and salinization. Massive industrial projects and nuclear testing at Semipalatinsk left lasting radioactive contamination. The Aral Sea disaster remains the most visible scar: what was once a thriving ecosystem supporting fishing communities and biodiversity has lost more than 90 percent of its volume since the 1960s. Today, the exposed seabed releases toxic dust that affects public health far beyond the immediate area, with studies linking it to high rates of childhood respiratory illnesses.

President Tokayev has repeatedly highlighted the need for collective action. In remarks at a UN conference on landlocked developing countries last year, he noted that nations without sea access face acute threats from water scarcity, glacier melt, and desertification.

“Addressing these challenges requires coordinated regional efforts and strong international support,” he said, while stressing that climate measures must balance environmental goals with legitimate development needs.

The summit builds on a two-year preparatory process that included ministerial consultations and the development of a joint concept for regional cooperation.

Over three days, participants will engage in high-level plenaries and more than 20 thematic sessions covering topics such as sustainable natural resource management, food security, low-carbon technologies, and early-warning systems for extreme weather. A dedicated session on health and environmental issues in the Aral Sea region, organized with the World Health Organization, will examine the human cost of degradation, including links to respiratory diseases caused by airborne pollutants. Another focus will be the Caspian Sea crisis, where declining water levels risk repeating the Aral tragedy on a different scale, affecting endangered species like the Caspian seal and sturgeon populations central to the caviar industry.

An accompanying EXPO on green technologies and investment will showcase innovations in climate adaptation and sustainable development, aiming to attract financing for projects that could strengthen regional resilience. Organizers hope the event will identify concrete needs for green funding and promote cross-border initiatives that demonstrate how Central Asia can contribute to global climate efforts despite its landlocked status.

For Kazakhstan, which has positioned itself as a diplomatic bridge in Eurasia, the summit represents an opportunity to assert regional leadership on environmental issues. The country has already taken steps to restore parts of the northern Aral Sea through dams and water management projects, though experts emphasize that lasting progress requires buy-in from all basin states. Broader challenges persist: institutional fragmentation since the Soviet breakup has hindered effective transboundary cooperation, while economic pressures – including reliance on hydrocarbons and agriculture — sometimes clash with sustainability goals.

Critics argue that past water-sharing agreements have often faltered amid competing national interests, and enforcement of environmental standards remains uneven. Yet supporters see grounds for optimism. The involvement of the UN and partners such as the OECD, IRENA, and development banks could help channel technical expertise and financing. Youth and civil society participation is also expected to inject fresh perspectives into discussions long dominated by governments.

As dust storms continue to sweep across the dried Aral seabed and glaciers feeding the region’s rivers retreat, the stakes extend beyond Central Asia. The summit’s success or shortcomings could offer lessons for other areas grappling with transboundary environmental crises, from the Middle East to South Asia. Whether Astana delivers a genuine platform for will become clear in the coming days. For a region still living with the ecological consequences of Soviet central planning, the gathering in Astana represents a test of political will. If Central Asian states can translate shared vulnerabilities into coordinated strategies, the summit may mark a turning point from inherited tragedy toward a more resilient future. The world will be watching to see if “one region, one vision” can translate into meaningful change on the ground.

Caption: File photo of the Congress Centre in Astana where RES 2026 will be held.