National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan

During the meeting with Gretel Aguilar, Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Union expressed its readiness to provide consultations and expert recommendations for the updated edition of Uzbekistan’s Red Data Book. Special note was made of Green University’s admission to the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law, which opens new opportunities for expanding scientific cooperation, hosting lectures, and organizing training programs at the university.

The parties also agreed to prepare new project concepts for submission to the 8th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in 2026. Additionally, at the international exhibition “Eco Expo Central Asia 2026,” IUCN will present its successful GEF-funded grant projects in a dedicated pavilion.

Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Rolph Payet accepted the invitation to attend “Eco Expo Central Asia 2026” and expressed readiness to actively participate in the event. It was agreed that in February 2026, a delegation from the Conventions will visit Uzbekistan to assess the existing hazardous waste management infrastructure and develop a joint cooperation program. The importance of updating Uzbekistan’s National Implementation Plan under the Stockholm Convention was especially emphasized. The parties also agreed to develop new initiatives for submission to the GEF 8th Assembly.

At the meeting with Susan Gardner, Director of the Ecosystems Division of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Uzbek side expressed gratitude for the UNEP project that enhanced the capacity of Central Asian countries in environmental monitoring using modern GIS technologies.

Particular attention was given to the preparation of the Environmental Change Atlas for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. In this context, Uzbekistan proposed the development of a Regional Environmental Atlas of Central Asia, covering key ecosystem sustainability indicators. The parties also agreed to deepen research on air quality and continue preparing joint analytical reports and recommendations.

During negotiations with Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), an important agreement was reached: one of the 18 Regional Technical and Scientific Support Centers planned worldwide under the CBD will be established in Tashkent, based at Green University. The center will begin operating in 2026 and will conduct national and regional training programs, experience-sharing initiatives, and implement technical solutions in line with Convention standards.