Uniting for a greener future: FAO at the Astana Regional Ecological Summit

Held from 22 to 24 April 2026, the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, offered a clear signal: as countries in Central Asia face intensifying climate pressures and resource constraints, environmental challenges in the region are no longer treated as isolated national issues, but as shared risks requiring coordinated responses.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), represented by Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative Viorel Gutu, took part in discussions, highlighting the role of agrifood systems in addressing these challenges, both as a source of pressure and as part of the solution.

Across multiple sessions, the message was less about new commitments than about alignment. Water scarcity, land degradation and biodiversity loss are already undermining agricultural productivity across Central Asia, while climate change is accelerating those trends. The region’s heavy dependence on shared river basins only reinforces the need for collective management.

This approach was reflected in FAO’s engagement in the launch of the High-Level Dialogue Platform on Environmental Cooperation under the Economic Cooperation Organization. “These challenges are deeply interconnected,” Mr Gutu noted, stressing that water, land, biodiversity and climate pressures “cannot be addressed in isolation.” 

A more operational dimension of these efforts was visible in the rollout of the Central Asia Water and Land Nexus (CAWLN) programme. Backed by the Global Environment Facility, the initiative aims to link ecosystem restoration with practical improvements in water and land management across the region. “We gather at a decisive moment for Central Asia,” Mr Gutu told participants, pointing to declining water resources, land degradation and rising demand as converging risks for food security and livelihoods. 

A dedicated high-level session on food security brought together representatives of all Central Asian countries, underscoring the shared nature of water and land challenges across the region. “Land, soil and water resources remain the foundation of food security and rural livelihoods, yet they are under increasing pressure,” Mr Gutu noted, highlighting the need for strengthened regional cooperation to ensure long-term resilience.

Discussions on food security focused on increasing pressure on natural resources in the region. Agriculture remains the dominant user of freshwater, yet is highly exposed to climate variability. With populations growing and diets shifting, demand is set to rise further, placing additional strain on already stressed systems.

Efforts to respond are framed in regional terms. The proposed “Green Shield of Central Asia” initiative, which seeks to expand forest belts and restore degraded landscapes, reflects a shift towards large-scale, cross-border solutions. But implementation challenges remain substantial, ranging from water scarcity to soil salinity and gaps in technical capacity. 
The same pattern is evident in the Aral Sea basin, where environmental degradation continues to carry economic and social costs. FAO’s intervention in discussions on the region stressed the link between declining soil quality, reduced agricultural output and deteriorating health outcomes. “Environmental degradation, agrifood systems and public health are deeply interconnected,” Mr Gutu said, calling for more integrated responses. 

The Summit also provided the setting for the formal transfer of the chairpersonship of the Regional One Health Coordination Mechanism from FAO to the World Health Organization (WHO), within the framework of the Quadripartite Partnership. The ceremony marked the conclusion of FAO’s term leading the mechanism and reaffirmed the shared commitment of FAO, WHO, World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the  United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to advancing the One Health approach across Europe and Central Asia.

Alongside these structural challenges, the Summit also touched on emerging areas of opportunity. Circular economy and bioeconomy approaches, particularly the reuse of agricultural residues and reduction of food loss, are gaining traction, though progress is uneven, with infrastructure gaps, regulatory fragmentation and access to finance still posing challenges for wider adoption.

For FAO, the emphasis was on scaling what already exists rather than launching entirely new frameworks. The organization’s role, as presented in Astana, is increasingly that of a convening partner, linking technical expertise, policy support and access to climate finance. Existing mechanisms, including Green Climate Fund and Global Environment Facility, are seen as the primary vehicles for moving from planning to implementation. 

If there was a common thread running through the Summit, it was a recognition that the region’s environmental agenda is converging with its economic one. The management of water, land and ecosystems is no longer a peripheral concern, but a central determinant of growth, stability and food security.

The question now is less about identifying solutions than about executing them at scale –and doing so across borders.