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

The meeting was attended by Aziz Abdukhakimov, Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change; Yerlan Nysanbayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Rauf Hajiyev, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Akyl Toktobayev, Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic; Hasan Suver, Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of the Republic of Türkiye; Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the OTS; and Asad Majeed Khan, Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization.

In his remarks, Aziz Abdukhakimov emphasized that today’s environmental challenges — ranging from climate change to biodiversity loss — do not recognize national boundaries and require coordinated, practical action.
“In this context, the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to establish a Turkic Environmental Council is of particular importance. We view it as a key institutional mechanism capable of consolidating the efforts of our states, ensuring systematic exchange of experience, and developing coordinated solutions,” he noted.

Special attention was given to the proposal to establish a specialized expert body under the Council — a scientific and technical structure or working group — proposed to be based in Nukus. The Uzbek side expressed its readiness to actively advance this initiative, including hosting one of the first meetings of the Council in Nukus — a region that clearly reflects the scale of environmental challenges associated with the Aral Sea crisis.

It was noted that holding the meeting in Nukus would provide participants with an opportunity to visit the Climate Change Museum’s exhibition, which illustrates the consequences of the Aral Sea tragedy, as well as ongoing efforts to restore ecosystems and improve living conditions for the population of the Aral Sea region.

Participants emphasized the need to move from discussions to the practical implementation of the agreements reached. Priority areas identified include the development of a green economy, the introduction of environmentally friendly technologies, the restoration of natural ecosystems, the reduction of pollution levels, and the promotion of sustainable consumption patterns. Special emphasis was also placed on expanding cooperation with international partners to attract investment and advanced solutions.

It was further highlighted that the Turkic states, possessing significant natural and scientific potential, can make a substantial contribution to the global climate agenda and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals through joint efforts. In this regard, strengthening mutual trust, unity, and consistency of actions is of particular importance.