WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the Regional Ecological Summit (RES2026): High level panel – 22 April 2026

Honourable Deputy Prime Minister Balayeva,

Minister Alnazarova,

Minister Musayev,

Minister Osmonov,

Minister Khudayarov,

Minister Abdullozoda,

Deputy Minister Ovezov,

My colleagues Hans Kluge and from the UN family Gutu and Kathleen,

Excellencies, honourable ministers, dear colleagues and friends,

Assalamu Alaykum. I thank the Government of Kazakhstan for convening this discussion.

The Aral Sea tells a powerful story about the consequences of environmental change, and its impact on people, families, communities and futures.

The diversion of two rivers for irrigation, inefficient canals and overuse turned a thriving ecosystem into a shrinking, saline desert.

As the waters receded, white dust made up of pesticides, salt and sand, causing severe health problems.

The lesson is clear: the health of humans, animals and the environment we share are inextricably linked. We cannot protect one without protecting the others.

Just as the Aral Sea is a human-made environmental disaster, so the evidence is overwhelming that humans are responsible for climate change.

The climate crisis is a health crisis. Not a hypothetical crisis in the future - it's right here and right now.

Climate-related humanitarian emergencies are increasing in scale, frequency and intensity, with devastating impacts for health.

Health is the most compelling reason for climate action, but for too long, health has been a footnote in climate negotiations.

For WHO, four priorities are clear.

First, health must be integrated systematically into environmental policy and recovery efforts.

Second, countries need stronger cross-border collaboration, because climate risks do not stop at borders, and neither should the solutions.

I think that is why all bordering countries are here today - because the impact of climate change does not stop at borders, nor when it comes to the Aral Sea and Caspian Sea regions.

Third, we need better monitoring, better data and better use of evidence.

And fourth, we must keep people at the centre - especially children, women and communities living in the most affected areas.

Protecting future generations starts with protecting health today.

I hope this panel helps to strengthen political commitment for sustained regional cooperation.

And I hope it helps to lay the foundation for more practical, more preventive, and more health-centred action across the Aral Sea and Caspian Sea regions.

WHO is proud to stand with Member States in this effort.

And if we want to protect future generations, we must act now, act together, and act with health at the centre.

Rajmet. I thank you.