91��ý

On July 1, 2026, an international round table titled “Environmental Sustainability of Central Asia under Climate Change: From Glaciers to Deserts” was held at the Ionosphere Institute of the Aerospace Committee. The event was organized as part of the second day of the 2026 Annual Academic Conference of the China–Kazakhstan Joint Laboratory for Remote Sensing Technology and Application and the First Central Asia–China Symposium.

The second day of the conference was dedicated to the environmental sustainability of Central Asia under climate change, the development of international scientific cooperation, and a practical introduction to Kazakhstan’s research infrastructure in the fields of remote sensing, geoinformation technologies, space monitoring, and the study of natural processes.

The event brought together representatives of scientific, educational, governmental, and international organizations, including the Ionosphere Institute, the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 91��ý Kazakh National University, the China–Kazakhstan Joint Laboratory for Remote Sensing Technology and Application, the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, the UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty, the Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing Normal University, East China Normal University, the State Organization “Kazselezashchita” of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Farabi GIS Geospatial Science Center, the Cluster of Engineering and High Technologies, and other institutions. Their participation highlighted the importance of consolidating scientific, expert, educational, and international capacities to jointly address the region’s pressing environmental and climate-related challenges.

During the scientific session, presentations covered the activities of the participating organizations, UNESCO initiatives in the field of natural sciences, issues related to the prevention of mudflows and other natural hazards, environmental monitoring, hydrometeorological research, and the application of satellite data, geographic information systems, and artificial intelligence methods to address key challenges in Central Asia.

Special attention was given to climate change, glacier and water resources monitoring, land degradation, sustainable natural resource management, and the development of modern approaches to natural risk assessment. Participants also discussed an initiative to develop a joint research project within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The initiative is aimed at the comprehensive study of climate change impacts on transboundary river basins, glaciers, water resources, agricultural areas, and land degradation processes.

Following the discussion session, participants continued the scientific and introductory programme at the Orbita Radiopolygon. During the visit, they became acquainted with the research infrastructure, technical capabilities, and practical areas of activity of the facility, as well as the potential of its scientific base for conducting fundamental and applied research.

We are pleased that the event brought together leading scientific and international organizations. We also hope that it will serve as a solid foundation and an effective bridge for further cooperation between institutions, the development of joint initiatives, and the collective search for practical solutions to the key environmental and climate-related issues discussed during the round table.