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

The meeting was also attended by Aysun Boşça, representative of the COP31 Preparation Office; Şükrü Uzun, Head of the Climate Change Department; Professor Menaf Turan, Academic Adviser and the Deputy Director General for European Union Affairs and Foreign Relations.

During the discussions, Fatma Varank highly commended the large-scale reforms being implemented in Uzbekistan under the leadership of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the fields of ecology, environmental protection and climate action. She highlighted the importance of Uzbekistan’s international and regional initiatives aimed at advancing the principles of sustainable development and strengthening environmental cooperation.

The parties also discussed the current state and future prospects of bilateral cooperation in the areas of environmental protection, climate change, sustainable development and the implementation of joint environmental projects.

Particular attention was given to preparations for the 31st session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), which will take place in Antalya, Türkiye, in November 2026. In particular, the parties reviewed arrangements for the establishment of the National Pavilion of the Republic of Uzbekistan at the COP31 venue, as well as organizational and logistical aspects related to the participation of the Uzbek delegation in the conference.

In addition, the parties discussed the organization of side events, bilateral meetings and other activities within the conference programme aimed at promoting Uzbekistan’s environmental and climate agenda on the international stage.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their mutual interest in further strengthening bilateral cooperation and expressed their readiness to continue a constructive dialogue on environmental protection, climate change and preparations for COP31.