Environmental protection and
combating climate change are key priorities of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). At Kazakhstan’s initiative, 2024 was declared
the SCO Year of Ecology. The Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources
developed a series of important documents recognizing the significance of this
agenda. These include a register of environmental problems, a cooperation
program for the development of specially protected natural areas and
ecotourism, a Cooperation Agreement among SCO Member States’ Governments on
Environmental Protection, a Statement by the SCO Heads of State Council on
Smart Waste Management, and the Plan of Events for the SCO Year of Ecology this
year.
«The documents cover a wide range
of issues, including air and water pollution, various climate challenges,
biodiversity conservation, and waste management. Each of these areas can be
addressed jointly with the SCO member states. The exchange of experiences is
particularly important, given the diverse geography of the member countries.
Each country has its own specific expertise in solving certain environmental
problems and issues. Cooperation also includes the exchange of scientific and
technical practices and data,» said Aigerim Kuat, Director of the International
Cooperation Department at the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.
