«Geo-Sustainability BRICS 2026» International Scientific Conference Kicks Off in Nalchik
On September 23, the opening ceremony of the international scientific conference «Geophysical Processes, Environmental Sustainability, and Rational Nature Management Amidst Global Changes» (GEO-SUSTAINABILITY BRICS 2026) took place at Kabardino-Balkarian State University.
This major forum brought together leading scientists, researchers, and experts from BRICS nations and partner states. The choice of Kabardino-Balkaria as the host region was no coincidence: the unique high-mountain ecosystems of the Central Caucasus and the proximity of Mount Elbrus create a rare natural laboratory for studying climatic and geophysical processes.
The conference opened with a video address by Konstantin Ilyich Mogilevsky, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. In his welcoming remarks, he emphasized the strategic importance of uniting scientific efforts within the BRICS framework.
«The choice of Kabardino-Balkaria as the conference venue is deeply symbolic; this remarkable region, situated at the foot of Mount Elbrus, is in itself a unique site for international research in geophysics and climatology. Global challenges—such as climate change, the depletion of natural resources, and natural disasters—know no borders, and a truly effective response requires a collective approach. BRICS is establishing dozens of areas for cooperation, ranging from energy and artificial intelligence to the social sciences, and some of these directly align with the themes of your conference. I hope that today’s meeting will serve not merely as a venue for presenting completed research, but as a platform for launching new joint projects,» noted Konstantin Mogilevsky. Professor Mikhail Zalikhanov—a Full Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Scientific Director of the High-Mountain Geophysical Institute, and member of the KBSU Board of Trustees—addressed the guests on behalf of the scientific community and the organizers.
«It is a great honor and pleasure for me that this event is taking place within the walls of my alma mater. Issues of sustainable development require a deep understanding and an interdisciplinary approach—areas we have been working on for years. I am confident that the conference’s outcomes will yield significant results for future scientific and practical endeavors, not only in our region but across the entire country,» said Mikhail Chokkaevich.
Yuri Altudov, Acting Rector of KBSU, highlighted the university’s role as a key expert center in the context of a changing climate.
«We have gathered in the heart of the Caucasus, in the capital of our hospitable Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. We live in an era of rapid climatic shifts, and the North Caucasus, with its unique high-mountain ecosystems, feels these changes more acutely than anywhere else. Today, our university acts not merely as a regional educational center but as a full-fledged research platform. We have deployed a climate monitoring system and are conducting significant research in new agricultural technologies, low-carbon-footprint advanced structural materials, and health preservation. Global challenges demand collective intelligence. I am convinced that the synergy between fundamental science and applied technologies within the BRICS agenda will enable us to formulate breakthrough solutions ensuring safety and well-being for the future,» emphasized Yuri Altudov.
Addressing the audience, Dana Bogatyreva—founder and executive director of the «BRICS Geo-Sustainability 2026» international platform and head of international projects at the «Respublika» Center for Intercultural Communication—noted that launching the platform in the Caucasus sets a special tone for the entire international cooperation effort. «BRICS nations face a diverse range of climate challenges; our natural conditions and levels of technological development differ significantly. That is precisely why the exchange of scientific data and practical experience is so important—rather than the pursuit of one-size-fits-all solutions. The unique nature of the Caucasus—specifically Mount Elbrus and the surrounding region—offers us the opportunity to study processes that hold significance far beyond the region itself. We have united around a simple idea: the scientific expertise of our region is a vital part of global science. The ‘BRICS Geo-Sustainability’ platform is open to universities and scientists ready to collaborate on practical solutions for the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future,» stated Dana Bogatyreva.
On the conference’s opening day, September 23, plenary sessions were held at KBSU. Speakers from Brazil, China, India, Uzbekistan, and Turkey presented to their Russian and international colleagues. Experts discussed climate governance, carbon markets, pasture degradation monitoring, land-atmosphere interactions over the Tibetan Plateau, and the challenges of electronic waste recycling within the context of sustainable natural resource management.
In the days that followed—September 24 and 25—the conference continued in a thematic sessions. Scientists will present papers on geophysical processes, atmospheric physics, biodiversity, sustainable natural resource management, and scientific and technological cooperation among BRICS nations. Particular attention will be paid to the integration of climate monitoring data and the development of nature-based solutions.
The event is organized by Kabardino-Balkarian State University and the High-Mountain Geophysical Institute, with organizational support from the «Respublika» Center for Intercultural Communication and Civil Society Institution Development.