Uzbekistan advances environmental cooperation agenda at SCO meeting in Bishkek
2026-04-04 14:00:00 / News
The meeting, held under the theme “25 Years Together for Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity,” focused on strengthening environmental cooperation amid growing global challenges, including climate change, land degradation, water scarcity, biodiversity loss and the increasing frequency of extreme natural events. It was noted that these challenges pose serious risks to sustainable development and ecological stability across the SCO region.
In his remarks, the representative of Uzbekistan expressed gratitude to the Kyrgyz Republic for its successful chairmanship and the high level of organization of the meeting and emphasized the importance of enhancing regional cooperation, expanding the exchange of experience and implementing joint initiatives in the field of environmental protection and climate resilience.
The Uzbek side highlighted the country’s ongoing green transformation, including large-scale afforestation efforts, particularly on the dried bed of the Aral Sea, and the implementation of the nationwide “Yashil Makon” (Green Nation) initiative, which provides for the annual planting of 200 million trees and the establishment of botanical and dendrological parks by 2028. A number of national projects are also being implemented, including “Clean Air,” “Waste-Free Territory,” “Eco-Culture” and “Bionasledie.”
It was also noted that Uzbekistan continues to strengthen its role as a regional platform for environmental cooperation, including through the hosting of major international events in Samarkand and preparations for the 8th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Eco Expo Central Asia.
Within the framework of the meeting, Uzbekistan put forward a number of initiatives, including a draft Agreement on climate change among SCO member states, the establishment of a Special Working Group, and the launch of a Regional Platform on climate adaptation, decarbonization and the use of artificial intelligence for environmental risk forecasting.