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

The upcoming Conference will be one of the world's largest international platforms for discussing land degradation prevention, combating desertification, climate change mitigation, and the sustainable management of natural resources. The event will bring together representatives of governments, international organizations, the scientific community, financial institutions, and civil society.

Uzbekistan continues to strengthen its contribution to the implementation of the global agenda of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. In 2023, Samarkand hosted the 21st session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC21) for the first time, becoming an important international platform for discussions on restoring degraded lands and achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN).

Another significant milestone was the visit of the international Silk Road Caravan, a special project of the UNCCD Secretariat, to Uzbekistan. During the 8th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), held in Samarkand in June 2026, the expedition visited the country on a filming mission to document Uzbekistan's large-scale environmental reforms, including the restoration of the Aral Sea region's ecosystems and projects aimed at combating land degradation.

As part of COP17, the Uzbek delegation will present the National Pavilion of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which will showcase the country's achievements in environmental protection, climate change adaptation, and land restoration. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about Uzbekistan's ongoing environmental reforms and flagship national initiatives, including Yashil Makon (Green Nation), Clean Air, EcoCulture, BioHeritage, and Waste-Free Territory, as well as projects focused on establishing halophyte gardens, creating green cover on the dried bed of the Aral Sea, promoting sustainable afforestation in arid regions, and other ecosystem restoration initiatives.

The Conference's official programme includes plenary sessions, high-level ministerial dialogues, thematic forums, and side events dedicated to land degradation, sustainable natural resource management, ecosystem restoration, combating sand and dust storms, and strengthening international cooperation to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality.

During COP17, the Uzbek delegation intends to present a number of international and regional initiatives aimed at consolidating global efforts to combat desertification and climate change. These include the establishment of the Asian Network of Desertification Control Centers, the launch of the Samarkand Climate Dialogue for Arid Regions, the creation of a regional Sand and Dust Storm Monitoring and Early Warning System, the implementation of the international Green Aral programme, the promotion of the Regional Green Development Concept for Central Asia, the advancement of the Uzbekistan–Mongolia Sustainable Pasture Management Initiative, as well as other projects designed to expand international cooperation in land restoration, sustainable natural resource management, and strengthening climate resilience in arid regions.