Bishkek Presented Its Sustainable Development Experience at the UN High-Level Political Forum

The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development is taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from July 7 to 17. Held under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the event brings together governments to review progress on sustainable development.

UCLG traditionally organizes the Local and Regional Governments Forum (LRGF) as part of the High-Level Political Forum. The meeting of local and regional leaders took place on July 14 at UN Headquarters and brought together mayors from around the world. Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of ECOSOC and Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, delivered welcoming remarks.

On behalf of the UCLG-Eurasia delegation, Bekzhan Usenaliev, Chairman of the Bishkek City Council, spoke from the UN rostrum, presenting the practical experience of the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic in localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In his address, Bekzhan Usenaliev emphasized that “for the city of Bishkek, the Sustainable Development Goals mean moving from plans to real infrastructure projects that are already improving people’s daily lives.”

Bekzhan Usenaliev paid particular attention to the modernization of Bishkek’s water supply and wastewater systems. He noted that the latest phase of upgrading the city’s wastewater treatment facilities, with a capacity of up to 50,000 cubic meters per day, has been completed. The project helps reduce pressure on the environment, improve the efficiency of wastewater treatment, and enhance the quality of public utility services for residents.

The Chairman of the Bishkek City Council also spoke about the implementation of one of the region’s largest environmental initiatives—the launch of the first waste-to-energy plant in Central Asia. During its first stage, the facility will process up to 1,000 tons of waste per day, generating approximately 30 megawatts of electricity.

“This project is a good example of public-private partnership,” Bekzhan Usenaliev stressed.

He also highlighted the city’s efforts to improve the energy efficiency of its social infrastructure. Schools and kindergartens in Bishkek are gradually transitioning from coal-based heating to cleaner energy sources, helping reduce air pollution and improve the energy efficiency of municipal buildings.

According to Bekzhan Usenaliev, these achievements have been made possible through close cooperation between the municipality, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, international financial institutions, and the United Nations system.

“This is a clear example of SDG 17 in action - partnerships for development,” he noted.

At the same time, the UCLG-Eurasia representative drew the Forum participants’ attention to one of the key challenges facing cities worldwide—limited access to international financing for climate and infrastructure projects.

“We believe cities should have better direct access to international climate and infrastructure finance, and more support for shared financing models,” Bekzhan Usenaliev stated.

In concluding his remarks, the Chairman of the Bishkek City Council reaffirmed the commitment of the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and expressed the city’s readiness to share its experience in sustainable urban development with the international community.

The participation of UCLG-Eurasia representatives in the UN High-Level Political Forum reaffirms the active role of Eurasia cities in the global dialogue on sustainable development and contributes to promoting the interests of the region’s local governments at the international level.

The Local and Regional Governments Forum is one of the UN system’s key special events, bringing together representatives of the United Nations, national governments, international organizations, cities, and regions every year to discuss the role of local governments in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In 2026, the High-Level Political Forum is being held under the theme “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated action for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all.” Particular attention is devoted to the implementation of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

15.07.2026

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