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

The meeting was chaired by Aziz Abdukhakimov, Adviser to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Environmental Affairs and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change. It brought together senior representatives of key ministries and government agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services, the National Committee for Sustainable Urbanization and Housing Market Development, the Agency for State Assets Management, as well as representatives of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and regional and Tashkent city administrations.

Opening the meeting, Aziz Abdukhakimov thanked all participating institutions for their contribution to the successful organization of the region’s largest international environmental gathering and highlighted the historic significance of the Eighth GEF Assembly for both Uzbekistan and Central Asia.

The Assembly programme featured the 71st GEF Council Meeting, the Civil Society Organization (CSO) Forum, nine high-level roundtables, approximately 50 side events, more than 50 bilateral and multilateral meetings, the international exhibition Eco Expo Central Asia 2026, and the Sixth Meeting of Environment Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states.
The outcomes of the Assembly included agreements on the implementation of national and regional projects exceeding USD 50 million through GEF grant financing. In addition, Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 facilitated the mobilization of USD 80 million in grant funding and more than USD 520 million in green investment commitments. The event brought together over 8,500 participants from 150 countries, while nearly 300 agreements were signed in the areas of renewable energy, water resources management and waste management.

A key focus of the meeting was the implementation of the President’s initiative to establish Samarkand as the Green Investment and Innovation Capital of Central Asia. Participants noted that the city is expected to evolve into a regional platform for green economic transformation, sustainable development, and climate finance, with successful approaches subsequently scaled up across other regions of the country.

The meeting also reviewed plans to establish the Ulugh Beg Institute for Sustainable Development in partnership with the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, based at Green University, as well as initiatives related to the creation of the National Climate Change and Hydrometeorology Centre. Participants further discussed agreements reached with Kazakhstan on the establishment of the interstate Clean Air Consortium.

In addition, participants considered the advancement of the “Desert Economy” initiative in the Aral Sea region, which aims to combat desertification, expand green shelterbelts, and strengthen climate resilience through international financial and technical cooperation.

Particular attention was given to waste-to-energy projects. Two facilities are scheduled to commence operations this year, with an additional nine plants expected to be launched over the next two years. Once fully operational, these facilities will process up to 5.5 million tonnes of waste annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 1.1 million tonnes.

The meeting also examined measures aimed at establishing an integrated national system for environmental education, research, and innovation. Green University has already consolidated ten research institutes and centres, along with fourteen green technical colleges, while ongoing programmes are helping to improve environmental awareness and literacy among nearly two million young people nationwide.

Participants further discussed preparations for Eco Expo 2027, which will be held as part of the Tashkent International Investment Forum under the theme “Sustainable Development and Green Investments.”

The meeting concluded with the identification of priority actions to advance the President’s environmental initiatives, accelerate the transition to a green economy, strengthen international cooperation on environmental and climate issues, and promote sustainable development across Uzbekistan.