Abu Dhabi, UAE
During a working visit to the United Arab Emirates, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attended the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week summit, which brought together world leaders, policymakers and experts to discuss global challenges to sustainable development.
The President was the first to address the summit. In his speech, he noted that the world is currently facing a number of critical challenges such as climate change, desertification, extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, water scarcity and food insecurity. These challenges are exacerbated by geopolitical tensions and disruption of global supply chains.
The President stressed that Kazakhstan is ready to address these challenges through an ambitious strategy based on three key areas - digitalization and AI, big infrastructural projects and nuclear energy.
– Globally, energy systems account for 75% of greenhouse gas emissions and 10% of biodiversity loss. It is very important that international partners including Masdar, Total, Eni and others have pledged 43 Gigawatts of green energy projects in Kazakhstan. The construction of our first nuclear power plant – following a nationwide referendum – marks a significant step toward national sustainable energy development. Kazakhstan also seeks to secure a diversified supply of critical raw materials for world markets. These materials are indispensable to achieving the world’s net-zero targets, – said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Then the President focused on the importance of transport infrastructure.
– For my country, which is a leading transit hub in Eurasia, transit and transport are essential prerequisites for sustainable development. Therefore, we are investing heavily in transportation infrastructure, including our roads, railways, airports, and seaports. To further enhance connectivity, Kazakhstan is committed to developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and the North-South transport corridor, while also playing pivotal role in the Belt and Road initiative. We are committed to building resilient supply chains that not only strengthen regional connectivity but also ensure sustainable economic growth, – stressed the Head of State.
As Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted, one of the main challenges of the Central Asian region is global warming.
– This accelerated warming can threaten ecosystems, livelihoods, and food security, increasing the need for urgent climate adaptation strategies. The region also relies heavily on shared transboundary rivers. Therefore, we are very much in need of early warning systems, and better water and land management. To this end, we must invest in water-saving technologies, modernize irrigation systems, establish effective water management agreements, as well as utilize artificial intelligence, satellite monitoring, and other digital tools, – the President suggested.
The speech raised the issue of food security, which also requires urgent attention.
– Innovative approaches are required to ensure a stable supply of food and fertilizers for global markets. Exporting a significant amount of wheat and flour to the international market Kazakhstan is committed to further advance sustainable agriculture practices and technologies, – he said.
According to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in order to confront current challenges, a new paradigm for world development is required, based on resilience, equity, and sustainability.
– The first pillar is the availability of green financing, which must increase dramatically. The second pillar is enhanced international cooperation on technology transfer, technical support, and scientific research. Solar energy, smart agriculture, carbon capture, and climate technologies powered by Artificial Intelligence offer a wide range of innovative solutions. Lastly, the third pillar is a synergistic relationship between climate priorities, economic development, and artificial intelligence, which by 2030 is expected to provide more than 16 percent of global GDP. This underscores the importance of a flexible and tailored approach to support the different sustainability goals of nations, – added the Kazakh President.
In conclusion, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev wished that today's summit would become an important milestone in identifying global priorities and coordinating efforts in the field of sustainable development for the coming decades.
During the summit, several prominent leaders also delivered speeches, including President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Rwanda Paul Kagame, Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo, Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim, and President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Razan Al Mubarak, among others.
