A new step toward regional environmental cooperation has emerged as Azerbaijan and Central Asian states agreed on a joint climate action statement aimed at strengthening collaboration on climate change, environmental protection, and public health.

The agreement was reached during the Regional Ecological Summit RES2026 held in Astana, Kazakhstan, bringing together senior officials and health ministers from across the region, The Caspian Post reports via local media.

Health ministers from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan participated in the summit, alongside Azerbaijan’s Health Minister Teymur Musayev.

The joint statement highlights a shared commitment to:

Strengthening climate cooperation

Improving environmental protection policies

Addressing health risks linked to environmental degradation

Officials stressed that rising challenges - including climate change impacts, air pollution, and sustainable resource management - require coordinated regional action.

The agreement also places strong emphasis on improving public health outcomes affected by environmental conditions, linking environmental policy directly to population well-being.