Central Asian Climate Science Forum 2026

1. 09:00–09:30

   Registration and morning coffee

2. 09:30–10:00

   Opening Session

   Chaired by Mr. Jakhongir Babadjanov — Technical Expert, FAO. Opening remarks: H.E. Aziz A. Abdukhakimov; Mr. Sherzod Umarov (FAO); H.E. Antti Karttunen (OSCE); Dr. Ismail Belen. Setting the Stage — Prof. Dr. Bakhtiyor Pulatov

3. 10:00–10:20

   Keynote Speech — Prof. Dr. Rik Leemans

   Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands — Past and recent development in climate-change scenarios and their applications

4. 10:20–10:40

   Presentation of the Climate Residency Programme

   Mr. Shakhboz Akhmedov — Director of Climate Residency Programme, Green University

5. 10:40–11:10

   Group photo & Coffee break

6. 11:10–12:10

   Session I: The Science–Policy Interface — Turning Climate Evidence into Policy and Regional Cooperation

   Chaired by Mr. Shakhboz Akhmedov — Director of Climate Residency Programme, Green University. Speakers: Dr. Jusipbek Kazbekov — Deputy Chairman, National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change; Dr. Iskandar Abdullaev — Senior Researcher, IWMI; Mr. Marco Keiner — Executive Director, Futurefinder (online); Mr. Jurgen Keinhorst — Director (former), Federal Ministry for the Environment, Germany; Dr. Ismail Belen — Chief Inspector, Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs

7. 12:10–12:20

   Q&A session

8. 12:20–13:00

   Special Session: Ceremony of Signing MoU & Youth Initiatives

   Chaired by Mr. Furkat Charangaev — Head of Department, Green University. MoU with FAO (Central Asia Climate Leadership Programme); MoU with Ismail Belen (Combating Desertification). Speakers: Mr. Azamat Kauazov — Manager, Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Programme, CAREC; Prof. Dr. Christopher Gerry — Rector, University of Central Asia; Ms. Raikhona Dadakhanova — Youth Focal Point, FAO

9. 13:00–14:00

   Lunch & Networking

10. 14:00–15:00

    Session II: Aral Sea Wetlands and Water Diplomacy in Central Asia

    Chaired by Amb. Javlon Vakhabov — Deputy Advisor to the President; Managing Director, International Institute for Central Asia. Speakers: Prof. Dr. Malika Ikramova — Research Institute of Irrigation and Water Problems; Dr. Tolibjon Kudratov — Deputy Director, Research Institute of Irrigation and Water Problems; Dr. Dinara Ziganshina — Director, SIC ICWC; Prof. Dr. Abdulkhakim Salokhiddinov — Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, TIIAME; Lobar Umarova — Chief Research Fellow, ISRS

11. 15:00–15:10

    Q&A session

12. 15:10–16:10

    Session III: Climate Change, Water, Agriculture and Energy — Technical and Earth-System Science Perspectives

    Chaired by Dr. Ben Jarihani — Senior Lecturer, James Cook University, Australia. Speakers: Dr. Abror Gafurov — Working Group Lead, GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences; Prof. Dr. Ali Torabi — Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, University of Oulu; Prof. Dr. Fadong Li — Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS; Prof. Dr. James Terry — Zayed University, UAE; Dr. Jafar Niyazov — Institute of Water Problems, Hydropower and Ecology, Tajikistan

13. 16:10–16:20

    Q&A session

14. 16:20–16:35

    Coffee break

15. 16:35–17:35

    Session IV: Innovation, Circular Economy and Regional Cooperation for Climate Resilience

    Chaired by Mr. Jakhongir Babadjanov — Technical Expert, FAO. Speakers: Dr. Abooali Golzary — Lecturer, Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Tehran; Dr. Kanat Sultanaliev — American University of Central Asia; Mr. Stephan Robinson — International Expert, FAO; Prof. Li Yaoming — Director, Research Center of Green Development of Silk Road, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, CAS; Mr. Botir Khaitov — Technical expert, FAO

16. 17:35–17:45

    Q&A session

17. 17:45–18:00

    Closing remarks

    Prof. Dr. Bakhtiyor Pulatov — Rector, Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University)

18. 19:00

    Dinner (by invitation)

Programme revised 12 August 2026. Session chairs and speakers as listed; some invited speakers may still be confirmed by the Organising Committee.