On April 26–27, the Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Chemistry and Biology in Aktau hosted the 1st Regional Forum of Youth Climate Dialogues for the Western Region under the theme “Climate, Water, and Environmental Protection.”
The forum brought together youth representatives from four western regions of Kazakhstan: Mangystau, Atyrau, Aktobe, and West Kazakhstan.

The event was organized by NIS Aktau in cooperation with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation's Kazakhstan office and in partnership with United Central Asia Professionals, Global Water Partnership, and the Regional Environmental Council of ECOJER in Mangystau Region.

The opening ceremony featured welcoming speeches from Rinat Zhumabayev, Director of NIS Aktau; Alexander Wolter, Head of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Kazakhstan; Adilbek Kozybakov, Chair of ECOJER’s Regional Environmental Council and member of the Public Council under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan; and Askar Seidaliyev, Vice President for Research and Development at Yessenov Caspian University of Technology and Engineering. All speakers encouraged youth to take an active role in environmental initiatives.

The forum moderator, NIS Aktau Eco-Coordinator and ECOJER member Bakhytgul Zhaksylykova, emphasized:

“The presence of more than 120 participants is a clear sign of growing youth engagement in environmental issues. Discussing key topics like the decline of Caspian seals and water scarcity, and working toward concrete solutions, was a major success of the forum.”