CAREC Institute Deputy Director Kuat Akizhanov Participates at CACCC-2026 in Astana, Kazakhstan

Dr. Kuat Akizhanov, Deputy Director Two of the CAREC Institute, attended the 8th Central Asia Conference on Climate Change (CACCC-2026) in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 22 to 24 April. The conference, themed “Climate Leadership in Central Asia: a partnership between Government and Business”, brought together representatives of government authorities, international organizations, financial institutions, business, the scientific community, and civil society.
As part of the Regional Environmental Summit, CACCC-2026 focused on climate policy and regional cooperation, adaptation and climate resilience, climate change mitigation, and climate finance and partnership with business. It also aimed to align Central Asia’s climate agenda with global developments and formulate a coordinated regional position for COP31. Initiated in 2018, the conference is organized by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia in collaboration with governments and international stakeholders to facilitate regional climate dialogue and cooperation.
CACCC-2026 placed particular emphasis on advancing updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans, decarbonization strategies, and climate risk management. Discussions also addressed landscape restoration, methane emissions reduction, and the promotion of the One Health approach as a pathway to strengthening ecosystem and community resilience. Dr. Akizhanov actively contributed to the conference discussions, including participation in the Opening and High-Level Introductory Plenary Session and the session on “Central Asia: Regional Cooperation and the COP30 Outcomes”.
On the conference sidelines, Dr. Akizhanov held bilateral meetings with key partners, including Dr. Batyr Mammedov, Executive Director of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia, the co-organizer of the conference, to strengthen institutional cooperation.
Dr. Akizhanov’s participation in CACCC-2026 reflects the CAREC Institute’s role as a regional knowledge hub supporting climate policy dialogue and sustainable development. Through engagement with regional platforms, the Institute continues to contribute to collaborative, evidence-based solutions to climate challenges and resilience building in Central Asia.