Kazakh President calls for more funds to save Aral Sea at COP28

Addressing the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) held in Dubai, the UAE, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed hope that the international community will reinforce their commitment to increasing funds for environmental programs, Kazinform News Agency cites Akorda. 

Even if we manage to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees by 2050, Central Asian countries will still face a temperature rise of up to 2.5 degrees. This will lead to water shortages, extreme heat, desertification and extreme hydrological events. Therefore, adaptation is inevitable and necessary, said the Kazakh President.

The Kazakh President called for more funds to be allocated to support the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, once the fourth largest inland body of water in the world.

In addition, we are pleased, together with France, to co-chair the first thematic “One Water” Summit on the sidelines of the next session of the UN General Assembly. Based on the successful results of COP28 held this week, I invite the participating states to the Astana International Forum in June 2024, said the Kazakh President. 

Also, in order to give impetus to action to protect the climate in Central Asia, he said the decision was made to convene a Regional Climate Summit in Kazakhstan in 2026 under the auspices of the UN.