For many decades, the state of the Aral Sea has remained a global concern. Countries in Central Asia and the Caspian region have been taking joint measures and signing agreements to protect the environment, including efforts to safeguard the Aral Sea. At the World Climate Summit in Baku this year, the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, emphasized the specific steps being taken to save the Aral Sea.
Addressing climate change, restoring the affected Aral region, efficiently utilizing transboundary water resources, and implementing water-saving technologies are all complex and critical challenges. The Kazakh “Baitaq” Green Party stresses the importance of collective efforts to address these pressing issues. In this context, the “ARAL – 2024” Summit, which brings together green parties from multiple countries, holds significant importance.
The summit’s agenda includes discussions on solving key environmental challenges and the role of green parties in addressing them. The impact of the “Clean Kazakhstan” initiative, launched by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, is also being reviewed. The “Baitaq” Party actively supports this initiative aimed at fostering environmental awareness in society.
Opening the summit, the Chairman of Kazakhstan’s “Baitaq” Green Party, Azamatkhan Amirtayev, highlighted that water security is one of the most pressing issues in Central Asia.
– According to the UN, by 2050, as the population of Central Asia grows to 90 million, water shortages could reach 25-30%. Additionally, the demand for water resources used in agriculture may increase by 30% as early as 2030. This will negatively impact economic indicators and citizens’ income levels, – noted A. Amirtayev. – The issue of water scarcity carries the risk of conflicts and destabilization in the region, particularly in cases of external interference. There is now an acute need for active regional integration and collaboration among Central Asian countries on water and climate issues. The countries of the region must choose the path of partnership and good neighborliness.
He also spoke about the “Baitaq” Party’s contributions to preserving Kazakhstan’s hydrosphere. For instance, the party organizes seminars and educational campaigns on the rational use of water, implements greening projects in the Aral region and other areas, and introduces new technologies for purifying and utilizing wastewater and polluted water bodies.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Green Party of Kyrgyzstan, Erkin Bulekbayev, stressed that ensuring environmental security is a critical component of national security for all countries in the region.
– The Green Party of Kyrgyzstan notes with concern that the negative consequences of environmental problems are already affecting ecosystems and public health, – said E. Bulekbayev.
Additionally, Alexandra Kudzagova, Co-Chair of Russia’s Green Environmental Party, underlined the need to expand the region’s inherited hydro-technical systems, which were designed during the Soviet era and are no longer suited to current and future climate conditions. She emphasized the importance of constructing new reservoirs and canals to address water challenges. Kudzagova also spoke about the advantages of developing nuclear energy, not only for the economy but also as a potential solution to water-related issues.
During the summit, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the green parties of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, and Mongolia. The parties agreed to undertake joint environmental activities, expand public ecological education and awareness campaigns, and share knowledge and experiences in environmental protection and natural resource management.
The summit participants emphasized that only through united efforts can the consequences of environmental disasters be mitigated, ecosystems strengthened, and natural resources preserved. They highlighted the need for the ARAL – 2024 Summit to serve as a platform for productive collaboration and called for it to become a regular event.