To the participants of the eighth Assembly of the Global Environment Facility

Distinguished heads of delegations!

Honorable Assembly participants!

Ladies and gentlemen!

It is a great honor for us to warmly welcome you in the ancient city of Samarkand a city that for centuries has served as a bridge between East and West, between diverse cultures and civilizations, between science and practical knowledge.

Today's gathering carries a special symbolic significance, as it takes place on the eve of June 5 World Environment Day. On this occasion I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all participants on this important date.

You are all well aware that humanity today faces unprecedented crises climate change, the accelerating loss of biodiversity, and environmental pollution.

The Global Environment Facility occupies a special place in addressing these challenges. This unique global partnership platform, uniting 186 countries, has to date mobilized over 170 billion US dollars for environmental projects an achievement truly worthy of recognition.

Regrettably, desertification, land degradation, glacial retreat, and water scarcity  all driven by climate change remain the foremost threats to Central Asia. According to World Bank analysis, approximately 37 million people in our region currently live in areas of severe water scarcity, and by 2050 this figure could reach 75 million.

Honorable Assembly participants!

New Uzbekistan, despite the scale of existing challenges, views ecological transformation as a new model of development. To this end, we have transitioned to systematic project management and are implementing five national projects encompassing air quality protection, biodiversity, waste management, greening, and environmental education and culture.

Within the framework of these initiatives, by 2030 we plan to expand protected natural areas to 21 percent of the country's territory, reduce harmful atmospheric emissions by 10.5 percent, and establish dendrology and botanical gardens in every region.

Regarding waste-to-energy, we are on track to commission 2 plants this year and an additional 9 plants over the following two years. Together, they will process 5.5 million tons of waste annually, contributing to a reduction of 1.1 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

A unified ecosystem of environmental education and science has been established in our country. Under the "Green University" framework, 10 research institutes and centers, along with 14 "green" vocational colleges, have been consolidated, and a process to improve the environmental literacy of nearly 2 million young people has been launched.

Approaching the Aral Sea tragedy of the last century with a fresh perspective, we are restoring over 2 million hectares of degraded land with the aim of transforming the Aral Sea region into a zone of recovery, science, and innovation.

To consolidate regional efforts and implement practical solutions, the "Eco Expo Central Asia" platform has been established. It serves to attract financial resources and green solutions to projects aimed at resolving environmental challenges across regions and industries.

I take this opportunity to invite you to the exhibition organized here. I am confident that our green projects will serve as a basis for mutually beneficial agreements.

Dear friends!

The increasingly severe consequences of climate change demand from us urgent and practical action. Within the framework of this Assembly, we intend to put forward a number of initiatives, and your support in bringing them to life is of great importance to us.

First. We propose declaring Samarkand the "Green Investment and Innovation Capital of Central Asia."

Our goal is to transform Samarkand into a regional hub for the green economy, sustainable development, and climate finance to develop the city as a pilot "green zone" and subsequently replicate this experience across other cities of the republic.

Second. Six hundred years ago, Mirzo Ulugbek transformed Samarkand into a center of science. Today, in partnership with Columbia University's Center for Sustainable Development, the Ulugbek Sustainable Development Research Institute is being established within the Central Asia University for Environmental and Climate Studies.

The Institute will serve as a leading scientific and analytical platform for transforming regions and economic sectors toward green and sustainable development, and for attracting international scientific centers and financial institutions. Its strategic governance will be carried out through a Supervisory Board under the President.

Third. For the purpose of developing effective solutions to counter the adverse effects of climate change, a National Center for Hydrometeorology and Climate Change is being established.

The Center will integrate hydrometeorological services, early warning systems, glaciology, climate impact assessment, and greenhouse gas monitoring, creating an institutional foundation for climate forecasting, modeling, adaptation and mitigation programs, regional cooperation, and participation in WMO GAW and NASA AERONET programs.

Fourth. We have recently reached an agreement with the President of Kazakhstan to establish the "Clean Air" Interstate Consortium. Its activities will focus on attracting green finance, forest reclamation, scientific research, industrial ecological modernization, and strengthening monitoring and oversight. We invite all countries of the region to join the Consortium.

Fifth. Building on the Institute for Combating Desertification, we propose advancing a "desert economy" initiative in the Aral Sea region aimed at mitigating the effects of desertification, creating green shelters, and promoting climate adaptation. We propose implementing this in alignment with GEF priority directions, with international financial and technical support.

Sixth. The 2027 Tashkent Investment Forum will be held under the theme "Sustainable Development and Green Investment," with an international "Eco Expo Central Asia" exhibition organized as part of the event.

At the Forum, each region will prepare and present to investors no fewer than 100 promising projects aimed at attracting green investment.

I also wish to announce one further important initiative. Uzbekistan is prepared to join the ranks of donor countries of the Global Environment Facility. As a member of the GEF Council, our goal is to provide practical support for joint regional initiatives and to expand cooperation.

I am firmly convinced that this Assembly, beginning its work today, will become a pivotal platform in shaping a new regional architecture of environmental cooperation.

I wish the Assembly every great success, and to each of you new achievements and prosperity, happiness and wellbeing for your families.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev,

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan