From 4 to 6 September 2026, Samarkand, Uzbekistan, is hosting the Regional Conference of Children and Youth, RCOY Central Asia 2026, themed “Central Asian Youth for Climate, Water and Sustainable Development.” The conference brings together young leaders, activists, experts and representatives of organisations from Central Asia, Türkiye and Azerbaijan to discuss the region’s shared climate challenges.
The main themes of the conference include climate justice, water security, glacier preservation, land degradation, sustainable development and youth participation in climate decision-making. The programme features expert sessions, practical project-development training, presentations of green innovations, and collaborative work on the Central Asian Regional Youth Statement.
Representing CAREC, Valeriya Orlova, a specialist of the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Programme, delivered a presentation during the capacity-building session. Her presentation was entitled “The Global Climate Regime and Central Asian Policy Priorities: Bridging Global Frameworks with Regional Coordination and National Action.”
The presentation addressed key elements of global climate policy, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement, Nationally Determined Contributions, National Adaptation Plans, Biennial Transparency Reports and climate-finance mechanisms. Particular attention was given to how global commitments can be translated into practical national measures and coordinated regional action in the areas of water, energy, land use and climate-change adaptation.
Valeriya Orlova also presented CAREC’s experience in promoting regional environmental dialogue, climate information exchange and youth leadership, including through the Central Asian Leadership Programme on Environment for Sustainable Development (CALP).
CALP is a flagship initiative of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) undertaken since 2010 designed to improve leadership capacity of young and mid-level professionals of various organization from governmental, non-governmental, commercial organizations working towards sustainable development in Central Asia
One of the key expected outcomes of RCOY Central Asia 2026 is the adoption of the Regional Youth Statement, reflecting the shared priorities and proposals of young people in Central Asia. The document is expected to feed into global youth climate processes, including COP31 and the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.
