London forum reviews Astana eco-summit, eyes UK–Kazakhstan cooperation on green transition
A London forum has taken stock of the Regional Ecological Summit (RES‑2026) held recently in Astana, bringing together officials from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, business leaders, experts, British journalists and UK-based summit participants to discuss results and next steps with Kazakhstan on the green economy, water security and sustainable development.
Opening the event, Rupert Goodman, chairman of the British‑Kazakh Society, called the Astana summit a landmark that convened leaders of 11 states alongside international organisations, financial institutions, business, academia and civil society.
He said a key outcome was the Joint Declaration of the Heads of State of Central Asia, titled Environmental Solidarity of Central Asia, which he described as reaffirming a shared commitment to strengthen regional cooperation.
Goodman also noted strong interest in the UK, citing a written message from the Duke of Richmond to Kazakhstan’s President Kassym‑Jomart Tokayev and summit participants that underscored water as a precious resource and welcomed the attention in Astana to the initiative of establishing an International Water Organisation.
Kazakhstan’s Chargé d’Affaires in the United Kingdom, Ruslan Karabulov, highlighted the scale of the three‑day gathering: 58 sessions, including 21 high‑level panels, and more than 8,000 participants.
Senior representatives of the United Nations and leading international organisations joined discussions, including the OSCE, the European Union, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank.
According to Karabulov, a substantial package of initiatives and investment agreements was announced—more than 30 regional environmental projects with total funding exceeding USD 2 billion, plus additional agreements worth over USD 2.3 billion in renewable energy, waste management and sustainable industrial development.
Dr. Undala Alam, Regional Climate Adviser at the UK Foreign Office, welcomed Kazakhstan’s initiatives and outlined areas to deepen bilateral work: environmental sustainability, biodiversity protection, regenerative agriculture, carbon market development, stronger regulatory frameworks for environmental security, improvements in public governance and heating system reforms.
She said the United Kingdom is interested in a broader dialogue with Kazakhstan across these areas, including knowledge exchange and deployment of green technologies. Kristian Carraretto, Head of Energy Transition at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, said a memorandum of understanding was signed at the summit to establish Kazakhstan’s country investment platform for the energy transition, QaJET.
By 2035, he said, Kazakhstan plans to commission at least 10 GW of renewable energy capacity, attract around USD 20 billion in investment and reduce emissions by more than 20 million tonnes annually. British broadcaster and summit session moderator Charlotte Kann pointed to Kazakhstan’s leadership in climate diplomacy, saying the summit showcased the role that middle powers can play in an increasingly multipolar world.
The London event concluded with a question‑and‑answer session and a screening of the documentary Tasbaqa. Participants said they aim to maintain momentum from Astana as discussions on green partnerships and project implementation continue.