On May 30, 2025, a roundtable organized by the Issyk-Kul Aarhus Center, with financial support from the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, took place in the meeting hall of Sary-Kamysh village, Ak-Suu District, Issyk-Kul Region.

The main goal of the roundtable was to familiarize the local community with the principles of the Aarhus Convention, raise public awareness about the right to access environmental information, participate in decision-making, and protect environmental rights. Environmental problems of Sary-Kamysh village and the entire Issyk-Kul region were also discussed, and proposals for local solutions were gathered.

The event was officially opened by the head of Sary-Kamysh village, Sultash uulu Ulan, who emphasized the importance of the roundtable and encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions. S. Tursunyakunov, manager of the Issyk-Kul Aarhus Center, provided detailed information on the Center’s activities and goals, outlining the legal framework of the Convention and opportunities for citizen participation. Participants were shown a presentation and videos reflecting the Aarhus Center’s work in Issyk-Kul.

During the discussion, teacher Zh. Kazakbaeva noted that the attitude of local youth towards environmental issues has become more positive in recent years, but highlighted the lack of systematic and continuous environmental education. According to her, school curricula contain very few topics dedicated to ecology, especially insufficient attention is paid to issues such as environmental protection, waste management, and the consequences of water and air pollution.

A. Aybekova happily noted the increased interest among young people in environmental protection and cleanliness, but emphasized that there is a lack of material, moral, and organizational support for implementing these initiatives. E. Kaparova drew attention to the worsening garbage problem in Sary-Kamysh village, particularly during the summer tourist season when waste volumes sharply increase, and there are no mechanisms for timely waste removal. School director Satkyn uulu Sh. confirmed that the absence of specialized equipment, such as a garbage truck, creates significant difficulties.

The most important part of the roundtable was a joint discussion in a Q&A format, where participants actively discussed environmental problems and offered various opinions and observations.

S. Tursunyakunov, manager of the Issyk-Kul Aarhus Center, responding to questions, emphasized the need to increase the number of garbage bins and conduct public awareness campaigns on waste sorting. He also stressed that, in accordance with the principles of the Aarhus Convention, efforts to inform the public and protect citizens’ rights should be strengthened.

During the dialogue, participants agreed that environmental protection is a shared responsibility, and all parties—local authorities, citizens, schools, and organizations—should work together.

The roundtable was successful, and as a result, understanding of the Aarhus Convention’s significance and citizens’ environmental rights was expanded. Concrete recommendations for local problems were developed. Specifically, the Kytyr Ake village administration was recommended to acquire specialized equipment for timely garbage removal in Sary-Kamysh village. The Issyk-Kul Aarhus Center announced plans to hold similar roundtables in other villages as well.