WHO and the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan will host a ministerial session on health and environment in the Aral Sea region, with an expanded dialogue linked to the Caspian region. It will take place as part of the Regional Ecological Summit (RES) 2026, to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 22–24 April 2026.
The session will focus on the health consequences of environmental degradation in the Aral Sea region, where the drying of the sea continues to affect people’s lives and well-being. It will bring together government representatives from Central Asia and the Caspian region, as well as international organizations and experts, to discuss coordinated, evidence-based responses to environment-related health risks and ways to strengthen cross-border and intersectoral cooperation.
RES 2026 was proposed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan during the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2023. It is intended to serve as a regional platform for dialogue and cooperation on climate and broader environmental challenges.