President of Uzbekistan proposes new initiatives to address climate and environmental challenges in Central Asia

On April 22, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the opening ceremony of the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana.

The event was also attended by President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan, President of Georgia Mikheil Kavelashvili, as well as Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov, and heads of international and regional organizations.

In his address, the Head of State congratulated President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the successful organization of the summit and expressed support for its central theme — “Shared Vision for a Resilient Future”, which highlights the deep interconnection of environmental challenges and the need to address them collectively.

Noting that the current meeting is a logical continuation of the dialogue initiated at the Samarkand Climate Forum last year, the President of Uzbekistan expressed satisfaction that the environmental diplomacy of the Central Asian states has reached a qualitatively new level, acquiring a consistent and systematic approach.

As the Leader of Uzbekistan emphasized, environmental issues today cannot be considered in isolation from global climate change.

"The pace of global warming is accelerating, and temperature in Central Asia is rising twice as fast. Nearly a third of the region’s glaciers have been lost, precipitation patterns are becoming increasingly erratic, and water shortages are growing. Land degradation has already affected 80 million hectares," President Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated.

Concern was expressed about the weakening of global environmental solidarity. The importance of ensuring timely, equitable, and unimpeded access for developing countries to climate finance, advanced technologies, and innovations was emphasized.

It was noted with satisfaction that the Central Asian states have succeeded to elevate environmental protection issues to the level of key priorities for regional cooperation.

This is evidenced by the adoption of a number of important strategic regional programs to promote the “green” agenda, adapt to climate change, and protect the environment.

The Head of State also focused on the systemic measures being taken in Uzbekistan to strengthen environmental sustainability.

“As part of the “Yashil makon” project, around one billion trees and shrubs have been planted. More than two million hectares of afforestation have been established on the dried-up bed of the Aral Sea, and new “green belts” are being created. At our initiative, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the “Decade of Action for Afforestation and Reforestation,” the Leader of Uzbekistan noted.

In addition, as a result of large-scale water conservation efforts, up to 10 billion cubic meters of water are saved annually. The share of green energy in the country’s total generating capacity has reached 30 percent and is projected to exceed 50 percent by 2030.

Commitments under the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions by 35 percent have been fulfilled ahead of schedule, and a new target has been set to reduce them by half by 2035.

Waste-to-energy projects are being actively implemented. This year, two new waste incineration plants are expected to begin operations, with a further nine facilities planned over the next two years. Their commissioning will enable the annual processing of 5.5 million tons of waste, the generation of 2.2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, and a reduction in emissions by more than one million tons.

The President of Uzbekistan then put forward a number of specific initiatives aimed at addressing climate and ecological challenges in Central Asia.

Given the deteriorating quality of atmospheric air, it was proposed to establish an interstate consortium, “Clean Air of Central Asia,” which could serve as a joint platform for mobilizing green finance to modernize industry and introduce emission control systems.

The President advocated granting regional status to the Center for Combating Desertification, Drought Prevention, and Early Warning of Sand and Dust Storms at the Green University in Tashkent. It was noted that consolidating scientific potential at this Center would enable the creation of a robust system for monitoring land degradation, as well as salt and dust emissions.

To accelerate the technological transition, an initiative was put forward to establish a “Central Asian Green Trade Corridor,” including the introduction of preferential customs regimes and the mutual recognition of certificates for eco-friendly products.

The need to create a unified Investment Portfolio of Central Asian Climate Projects was also emphasized, which would support the development of a coordinated regional strategy and increase partners’ interest in their implementation.

The creation of a Unified Regional Atlas of Environmental Changes can become a fundamental scientific and analytical foundation, clearly reflecting the dynamics of desertification, land degradation, and the state of water resources in the region.

To preserve biological diversity, it was proposed to develop a Red Book of Central Asia under the coordination of the regional office of the International Union for Conservation of Nature in Tashkent.

In order to advance the climate agenda and foster environmental culture among the younger generation, readiness was expressed to hold the World Youth Climate Forum in Uzbekistan in 2027.

In conclusion, the President of Uzbekistan invited participants to attend the 8th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility and the World Forum on Water Conservation, which will be held this year in Samarkand.