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

Hosting the forum in Uzbekistan served as a recognition of the growing role of the country and the entire Central Asian region in advancing the global environmental and climate agenda. Throughout the week, Samarkand became a space for open international dialogue on the future of sustainable development, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, pollution control, and the transition to a green economy.

A special place on the Assembly's agenda was given to the initiatives of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, announced at the opening ceremony of the forum. In particular, the Head of State proposed an initiative to grant Samarkand the status of the "Green Capital of Investment and Innovation of Central Asia," designed to serve as a regional platform for attracting green financing, promoting environmental technologies, developing scientific cooperation, and implementing advanced solutions in the field of sustainable development. The initiative aims to strengthen Samarkand's role as a key center of environmental diplomacy and green transformation in the region.

Another important announcement was Uzbekistan's decision to become a donor country to the Global Environment Facility. This step was perceived by the international community as a testament to the country's readiness not only to utilize international support mechanisms but also to make its own tangible contribution to solving global environmental problems.

Summarizing the event, the Chairperson of the Eighth GEF Assembly, Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Ecology, and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, Aziz Abdukhakimov, emphasized that the Assembly facilitated the advancement of the global environmental agenda, the strengthening of international partnerships, and the building of trust between countries and organizations.

"Over the past few days in ancient Samarkand, we have been able to advance the global environmental agenda, strengthen partnerships, and build trust. During the Assembly, nine high-level roundtables, over fifty side events, and dozens of bilateral meetings and expert discussions were held. The GEF Council adopted key decisions on the programmatic directions of GEF-9, the updated STAR system, the GEF work program, and the implementation mechanisms for the integrated programs of the new financial cycle," the Chairperson noted in his closing remarks.

A. Abdukhakimov highlighted that the nearly complete utilization of GEF-8 resources and the approval of new programmatic decisions create a solid foundation for the launch of GEF-9, based on the integrated "Nature – Climate – Pollution" approach. Special note was made of the need to expand inclusive participation and support for local communities, including the intention to allocate at least 20 percent of GEF-9 resources to indigenous peoples and local communities.

Within the framework of the Assembly, agreements were reached on the implementation of national and regional environmental projects with a total value exceeding 80 million dollars. Furthermore, Central Asian countries agreed to jointly develop a regional program for the conservation of big cats and their ecosystems for further advancement under GEF-9.

One of the vital outcomes of the forum was the official launch of the regional Central Asia Water and Land Nexus (CAWLN) program, aimed at the sustainable management of water and land resources in the region.

The idea for the program was first proposed at the previous GEF Assembly in Vancouver, and in Samarkand, it found practical realization as a prime example of effective international partnership and continuity. 

Summarizing the forum, GEF CEO and Director of Strategy and Operations Claude Gascon noted that the core value of the Assembly was the strengthening of international cooperation and the search for joint solutions to global environmental problems. According to him, it is precisely the consolidation of efforts by states, international organizations, businesses, and civil society that creates the conditions for large-scale transformations and the achievement of a sustainable future.

The Assembly's discussions centered on mobilizing environmental finance, expanding private sector participation, introducing innovative financial instruments, and enhancing the effectiveness of environmental investments. Special attention was paid to the preparation of the new GEF-9 financial cycle, which will define the priorities of global environmental policy for the coming years.

Participants emphasized that achieving environmental goals is impossible without systemic transformations and close coordination among states, international organizations, business, and society. Plenary sessions and roundtables addressed issues of climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, land degradation, water resource management, environmental pollution, and the transition to a circular economy.

Rosina Bierbaum, Chairperson of the GEF Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP), noted that more than half of the global economy directly depends on natural capital, yet investments in natural ecosystems remain insufficient. Representatives of international financial institutions and the private sector called for more active involvement of global capital in environmental projects and for recognizing environmental degradation as a key factor impacting economic stability.

Significant attention during the Assembly was devoted to the role of civil society, youth, women, indigenous peoples, and local communities. Participants repeatedly underscored that the effective implementation of environmental policy is impossible without broad public participation and the Whole-of-Society Approach, which will become a fundamental element of GEF-9.

Parallel to the Assembly, the international exhibition Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 was held in Samarkand, bringing together approximately 10,000 participants from more than 150 countries. The venue featured over 120 pavilions, environmental startups, innovative technologies, and investment projects in the fields of sustainable development and the green economy.

Following the exhibition, agreements were reached to implement nearly 300 green projects and initiatives worth about 520 million dollars. In this regard, Aziz Abdukhakimov invited international partners to participate in Eco Expo Central Asia 2027, which will be held on the sidelines of the Tashkent International Investment Forum and will be dedicated to sustainable development and green investments.

According to preliminary international media monitoring data, the Eighth GEF Assembly received about 500 mentions in mass media across 15 languages in more than 70 countries around the world, testifying to the high international interest in the forum and the growing role of Uzbekistan in environmental diplomacy.

The Eighth GEF Assembly in Samarkand became not only the largest international environmental platform of the year but also a critical stage of preparation for the decisive period of achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The decisions adopted, the programs launched, and the partnerships formed will determine the trajectories of international environmental cooperation in the coming years and facilitate the transition to a more sustainable and environmentally secure future.