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

Initiatives of Uzbekistan to improve the ecology of the member States of the OTS 

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is putting forward a number of important initiatives at international events in all areas, in particular in the field of ecology. As a result, Uzbekistan has become a State with a place in foreign organizations, including the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). In particular, on November 10-11, 2022, the first summit of the Organization of Turkic States was held in our country. At the summit, organized in the ancient and modern city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan put forward important proposals and initiatives aimed at further uniting the Turkic world and fully unlocking its enormous potential.

At the next summit of the organization, which was held in Ankara (Turkey) in 2023, the head of state paid special attention to global climate change. In particular, it was noted that the implementation of the following measures should not be postponed:
— in order to prevent emergencies and eliminate their consequences, create a systematic platform for the organization's cooperation, implement specific mechanisms, and take important measures within this platform;
— to intensify partnerships between the ministries of the member states of the OTS for emergency situations;
– application of the most advanced international experience in the field of early detection of forest fires, hurricanes, and early warning of the population, as well as increasing their constant awareness. 

At the summit of the OTS organization, held last year in Astana (Kazakhstan), it was noted that Uzbekistan is interested in developing comprehensive cooperation in the field of ecology.

Within the framework of this summit, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was solemnly awarded the "Supreme Order of Turkic World " for his great contribution to strengthening the unity of the family of the Turkic peoples and actively promoting the interests and views of the Turkic countries in the international arena.

In addition, at the informal OTS summit held in Azerbaijan on July 5-6, 2024, Uzbekistan focused on the joint fight against climate change. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev put forward a proposal to create a Turkic Environmental Council at the ministerial level to systematically solve existing problems, while it was noted that it would be advisable to place the headquarters of this structure in the area most affected by the environmental disaster—in the large city near the Aral Sea, Nukus.

Effective cooperation with OTS member countries 

Uzbekistan has established active and effective cooperation with OTS member countries in the field of ecology. 

Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan: on September 11, 2008, an Agreement on cooperation in the field of ecology was signed in Baku, and representatives of the two countries exchanged experience and information on a bilateral and multilateral basis within the framework of various meetings, international conferences, and other events. Cooperation is also carried out within the framework of the CIS. In particular, on December 9, 2023, within the framework of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), a meeting of ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) countries was held. In the national pavilion of the Republic of Azerbaijan, attention was paid to the issues of efficient use of resources, sustainable development, and accelerating the transition to a circulation economy in the OIC region.

Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic: On December 24, 1996, intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of ecology and rational use of natural resources was signed.

The two countries are constantly participating in various meetings, conferences, forums, seminars, and trainings on environmental issues. In particular, Uzbekistan took an active part in the 7th meeting of the Steering Committee of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP) on October 21-22, 2022, in Bishkek, in a Regional seminar on "Illegal wildlife trade - research results, legal analysis, and best practices" on July 4-6, 2023, in Bishkek, as well as in the regional training workshop for Central Asian countries on the preparation of biannual transparency reports in accordance with the terms, procedures, and guidelines of the UNFCCC, held on May 15-17, 2024.

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan: On June 2, 1997, an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of environmental protection and rational use of natural resources was signed, and on December 22, 2022, an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of ecology and environmental protection was signed.

Currently, an Uzbek-Kazakh joint working group on environmental protection and water quality assessment is working in the Syrdarya basin. In February 2024, within the framework of CMS COP-14 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on wildlife conservation on the Ustyurt Plateau. 

On June 2-3, 2023, a delegation headed by the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan took part in the 3rd international Congress "ECOJER: Carbon Neutrality Pathways" in Astana, as well as on September 4-5 at a meeting of the Interstate Commission for Sustainable Development of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea. 
 
Uzbekistan and Turkey: In 2018, an agreement was signed with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Turkey in the field of forestry, and over the past 6 years, about 60 of our specialists have participated in conferences, seminars and experience exchange courses held in Turkey. In addition, Turkey provided practical assistance in preparing land for planting forests around dams and reservoirs in the mountainous regions of Uzbekistan, and green spaces around cities.

Over the past four years, about 40 Turkish experts have visited our country and shared their experiences. It is expected that in 2024-2025, about 30 Uzbek experts will visit Turkey and share their experience in forestry.

Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan: On May 20, 2017, an agreement on cooperation in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development was signed with Turkmenistan, and on October 5, 2021, an agreement on cooperation in the conservation of biological diversity in a transboundary context.

The delegation of Uzbekistan took part in the International Conference "Cooperation in the field of food security in the context of climate change" held in Ashgabat on March 10, 2023, in the regional seminar "Energy cooperation and natural resource management in Central Asia in the context of the Afghan crisis: the way forward", as well as in the meeting of the OSCE Secretary General and the Ministers of the Environment of the countries in Central Asia on March 4, 2024. Also at the 45th expanded meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) on September 10-25, 2023, the transborder natural site "Turan Deserts of the Temperate Zone" was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

At the moment, within the framework of the GIZ project "Ecosystem approach to land use and ecosystem conservation in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya", cooperation has been established to exchange experience in the field of preserving the biological diversity of the Amu Darya and ensuring the sustainability of coastal ecosystems.

In addition, work is underway to strengthen cross-border cooperation in the management of protected natural areas on the border with Turkmenistan and to develop a cross-border nomination file for the inclusion of the Kugitangau Ridge in the UNESCO World Heritage List (Surkhan State Reserve on the Uzbek side and the territory of the Köýtendag Nature Reserve on the Turkmen side).

Prospects for multilateral cooperation

In 2019, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan signed a Memorandum on the management and protection of the transboundary complex of the Western Tien Shan, which is included in the Lists of World Natural Heritage Sites, on November 10, 2021, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Glasgow on the conservation of the snow leopard in the Western Tien Shan and Pamir-Alai, ensuring its food and habitat conservation.

-A joint Statement of the Central Asian countries was developed, which was presented at the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Dubai (UAE) in November-December 2023.
 
-On February 10, 2024, the Ministers of Ecology of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan took part in the opening ceremony of the Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies ("Green University") in Tashkent. 
 
-During COP-14, held in Samarkand in February 2024, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan joined the memorandum of understanding on the conservation of migratory species of birds of prey in Africa and Eurasia.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that the Turkic world today occupies an important place and has a significant voice in international climate cooperation. Uzbekistan is interested in further strengthening cooperation with the Organization of Turkic States in the field of ecology, as well as in all areas, in finding solutions to urgent environmental problems that are equally relevant to the organization's member states, and will continue to carry out practical work in this direction.