Environmental and sports tour “Climate Can’t Wait” on the Great Singing Dune of the Altyn-Emel National Park

On May 19, 2024, NJSC Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, together with the French Association XCSS – CROSS COUNTRY SKIING SAND and the Altyn-Emel National Park, organized an ecological and sports tour on the Great Singing Dune of the Altyn-Emel National Park.

Goal: Raise awareness and encourage action to combat climate change, using sport as a unifying and driving vector.

This event was attended by: Consul General of France in Almaty Fabrice Neveu; Ambassador of Friendship of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan in France Malgorzata Thuar; ecologist-expert of the Public Chamber of the Mazhilis of the Republic of Kazakhstan Skakova Aizhan; President of the XCSS Association - CROSS COUNTRY SKIING SAND - Estelle Peyen and others.

The environmental -sports tour is aimed at raising public awareness about the evolution of climatic conditions in the mountains, the future of aquatic ecosystems (for example, Lake Balkhash) and the need to preserve all natural areas (for example, Altyn-Emel Park), encouraging participants in tourism and sports, especially skiing, adapt or reimagine sports practices and equipment to conserve water resources (vs. artificial snow) and revitalize regions where vulnerable and fragile communities live through sports; adapting skiing practices and equipment to conserve water resources.

As part of the environmental sports tour, a number of events were held:

- Environmental action “March of Parks” to support protected natural areas;

- Ecological and sports tour on the Singing Dune “Skiing on the Sands”;

- Environmental campaign for garbage collection on the territory of the Altyn-Emel National Park.

It is worth noting that the XCSS Association (CROSS COUNTRY SKIING SAND) is officially recognized by the UN Climate Change Secretariat as an observer organization.

XCSS “Climate Can’t Wait” is part of the UN global initiative aimed at achieving SDG No. 3 - Good health and well-being, SDG No. 5 - Gender equality, SDG No. 6 - Clean water and sanitation, SDG No. 13 - Climate action , SDG No. 15 - Conservation of terrestrial ecosystems.

As part of this event, for the first time in Kazakhstan, the third edition of the international project “Climate Can’t Wait” was launched. This event aims to promote ecotourism and demonstrate the beneficial capabilities of remote areas to adapt to climate change.