Opinion | Why countries cannot afford to turn inward on climate security
In a time of growing fragmentation and scepticism towards multilateralism, it’s tempting for nations to turn inward, prioritising short-term domestic concerns over shared global challenges. However, climate change leaves no room for retreat.
Among its most urgent and overlooked consequences is the deepening crisis of water scarcity, which already affects more than 2 billion people worldwide. Water stress threatens food security, public health and economic stability while increasing the risk of migration and conflict. If left unchecked, it could shrink regional gross domestic products by up to 8 per cent by 2050 and fuel instability far beyond national borders.
Yet climate cooperation is faltering. Economic pressures have led some countries to delay environmental action and adopt a go-it-alone approach.
This is short-sighted. The economic impact of climate change is already significant. In 2023, climate-related disasters cost the US economy more than US$90 billion. Severe droughts in regions such as Central Asia, India and parts of Africa disrupt global supply chains and push up prices. Moreover, water stress drives instability and displacement. As vital sources dry up, migration rises.
Stabilising vulnerable regions is therefore a global strategic necessity. As a landlocked country in the centre of Eurasia, Kazakhstan is acutely aware of the dangers posed by climate change. As a key producer of wheat, disruptions to our water supply would not only hurt Kazakhstan but also exacerbate global food insecurity.
That’s why Kazakhstan is taking proactive steps, both through domestic initiatives and by deepening multilateral cooperation with international partners. At the national level, we have committed to reducing our absolute emissions by 15 per cent from 1990 levels by 2030, with a conditional target of 25 per cent contingent on additional climate finance and technology transfer. We have also adopted a Carbon Neutrality Strategy that aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.
With more than 80 per cent of the country’s emissions coming from the energy sector, Kazakhstan’s decarbonisation is fundamentally an energy transition. We have set ambitious targets, including increasing the share of renewables to 15 per cent by 2030.
Following a national referendum in 2024, Kazakhstan will begin developing nuclear power to help decarbonise the energy sector, ensure baseload capacity and lower the economy’s carbon footprint. These goals are embedded in national policy and backed by targeted investments.
Climate adaptation is also a priority, particularly in securing water resources. In partnership with the World Bank, we are working to restore the Northern Aral Sea – once among the world’s largest inland bodies of water – after decades of mismanagement led to its near disappearance. Our efforts have already revived parts of the sea, restoring fish stocks, biodiversity and livelihoods.
At the initiative of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and French President Emmanuel Macron, and in partnership with the World Bank and with the support of Saudi Arabia, we held the One Water Summit in 2024 which elevated water security as a global policy priority and advanced concrete solutions at both regional and global levels.
Yet there is still a long road ahead, and if you want to go far, go together. Kazakhstan is committed to leading regional environmental cooperation and climate action, but the support of global partners is essential. The European Union, China and other major actors should engage more deeply in supporting climate mitigation and adaptation through concrete mechanisms.
Specifically, providing targeted, affordable and accessible climate finance to vulnerable regions such as Central Asia can deliver tangible benefits for both global climate goals and local economies. Sharing technological expertise and enabling the transfer of smart grid, renewable energy and storage technologies can also yield concrete results. Supporting glacier research is equally critical for adapting to climate change’s impact.
In 2026, Kazakhstan will host the Regional Climate Summit in partnership with the UN and other international organisations. This summit will focus on joint regional climate action, water management innovation, cross-border collaboration and sustainable development. It will also demonstrate how the UN – despite its critics – remains an essential partner in promoting global dialogue and problem-solving.
There is no denying that the multilateral system needs reform. Institutions such as the UN have at times struggled to fully address today’s challenges, but abandoning them is not the answer. Instead, we must invest in and strengthen the mechanisms that enable nations to work together as climate and water challenges do not recognise political borders.
While focusing on domestic issues is a legitimate priority for any government, some challenges require global collaboration. Climate-related problems, whether they involve water, energy, food or migration, cannot be solved in isolation. They demand coordinated action, joint research, data sharing, financing and policy harmonisation.
Global climate cooperation is also a matter of national interest as it safeguards economies and preserves peace. Kazakhstan stands ready to do its part. We hope our partners across the world will join us.