President of Kazakhstan: Environmental safety true value that must be  ingrained in our DNA

ArmInfo. Today, on Earth Day, we have gathered in Astana to reaffirm our shared responsibility to protect our planet. This means that the countries of the region clearly understand the urgency and critical importance of having a vision for achieving a sustainable future. This was stated by  President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on April 22, opening the plenary session of the Regional Ecological  Summit (RES).

He noted that in many cases, environmental programs are developed and  shaped without adequately considering the development needs of  various regions and countries. This is especially true for developing  countries that are still in the process of building their economic  potential. Meanwhile, developed countries have already achieved their  current environmental standards thanks to long periods of  industrialization.

"That's why the global transition must be balanced, fair, and  incentivizing. Our shared approach must be well-founded, pragmatic,  and carefully considered to enable countries to move forward  sustainably without compromising their opportunities for economic  growth and progress. Environmental cooperation must serve as a  reliable tool for unity. It must be based on partnership, trust, and  shared responsibility. Without judgment, without blame, and without  accusations. As partners, we must work pragmatically and responsibly  to support peace and sustainable development," the Kazakh president  said.

He noted that Central Asia and neighboring regions face common  environmental challenges, including water scarcity, ineffective water  resource management, desertification, air pollution, and biodiversity  vulnerability. "The time has come to develop solutions. Kazakhstan  places particular emphasis on environmental responsibility at the  highest legal level. Our new Constitution clearly reflects  environmental protection as a fundamental priority of state policy  and societal responsibility. Kazakhstan reaffirms that environmental  security is a true value that must be embedded in our DNA and in our  long-term vision of progress," Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted.

Kazakhstan, he added, is pursuing a policy of transition to cleaner  energy aimed at protecting biodiversity, restoring degraded lands,  modernizing water management systems, and strengthening regional  environmental cooperation. "We recognize that no country can succeed  alone, so we must pay special attention to these issues through joint  efforts at the regional and global levels," the Kazakh leader  emphasized.

The Regional Environmental Summit (RES) is being held in Astana from  April 22 to 24 under the theme "A Shared Vision for a Sustainable  Future." The event aims to develop comprehensive policies and tools  for the protection, restoration, and shared use of ecosystems, water,  and land resources, as well as the conservation of biodiversity in  Central Asian countries.

Organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of  Kazakhstan jointly with the United Nations and several international  organizations, the RES is the first large-scale event aimed at  developing joint solutions reflecting a regional approach to  overcoming environmental challenges.