On 19-22 December 2023, Beijing hosted a regular Meeting of the Heads of Environmental Protection Ministries and Agencies of the SCO Member States, which was chaired by the Kazakhstani side.
The meeting participants continued to discuss the following draft documents: the Agreement between the Governments of the SCO Member States on Cooperation in Environmental Protection; the Programme of Cooperation in the Development of Protected Areas (specially protected areas, protected natural areas) and Environmental Tourism; the Joint Approaches of the SCO Member States in Dealing with Environmental Issues; the Statement of the SCO Heads of State Council on Effective Waste Management; the Plan to Implement the Concept of Cooperation of the SCO Member States on Environmental Protection for 2025-2027; the Rules of the Meeting of SCO Heads of Ministries and Agencies on Climate Change (SCO Climate Council); and, the Joint Action Plan to Support Regional Environmental Projects and Introduce Green Technology as part of the SCO Green Belt Programme for 2024-2026.
The meeting participants also discussed preparations for the SCO-UN special high-level event, One Planet, One Future: Joining Efforts for Environmental Sustainability, to be held in Nairobi, Kenya.
It was agreed that the next meeting would be held on 31 January-1 February, 2024 in an online format.