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

The seminar was organized in accordance with the speeches of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in the Senate and Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis on November 18-20, 2024, as well as the declaration of 2025 as the "Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy".

Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change Aziz Abdukhakimov, speaking at a seminar at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, stressed that the announcement by the President of 2025 as the "Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy" places great responsibility on the heads of state bodies at all levels, including khokims, and also pointed out why it is the issues of ecology, environmental protection, and climate change that receive great attention.

"Global climate change and anthropogenic factors, such as the burning of fossil energy resources, deforestation, waste of water, and construction, increase risks that negatively affect socio-economic stability as a result of human activities. This is, first of all, a serious threat to the health and well-being of the population, water and food security, and the effective functioning of energy, industrial, and urban infrastructure", said the minister. "Especially in Uzbekistan, where climate change poses the greatest threat, it is the management of water resources and agriculture, which, in turn, play a key role in ensuring economic stability and food security".

A. Abdukhakimov also focused on the tasks that need to be completed by 2030 in accordance with the Strategy "Uzbekistan-2030".

For information: by 2030, such tasks as reducing emissions into the atmosphere by 10.5%, total modernization of emission technology in economic entities of groups I and II on environmental impact, annual planting of 200 million trees, raising the standard of living in the republic to 30%, and protection of lands and reclamation facilities of 26,200 hectares are outlined. protection of forest plantations from erosion, bringing the forested lands of the republic to 6.1 million hectares, bringing the level of coverage of services for the collection and removal of solid household waste to 100%, and the level of waste recycling to 65%, reduction of landfills of household waste by 50%.

In addition, it was noted that the Ministry of Ecology will carry out a number of measures to protect the environment, manage waste, mitigate the effects of climate change, develop protected natural areas, and improve hunting, as well as a number of works will be carried out within the framework of the "Yashil Makon" project.

For information: in the next 5 years, the amount of pollutants released into the atmosphere will be reduced by 6 percent due to the installation and modernization of dust and gas cleaning equipment in 450 industrial enterprises (308 in 2020-2024) and the creation of "green belts" by planting more than 1 million seedlings of trees and shrubs on the territory of over 10 thousand industrial enterprises and adjacent areas.

In his speech, Deputy Prosecutor General Sh. Tukhtabaev noted that despite the announced indefinite moratorium on tree felling in accordance with Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 46 dated December 30, 2021, there are cases of illegal tree felling. In addition, it was noted that in some regions, obligations to plant seedlings within the framework of the national "Green Space" project are not being fulfilled, and some ministries and departments allow irresponsibility in planting and caring for seedlings.

"Our goal is to draw appropriate conclusions about the shortcomings that have been made and to effectively use the experience gained in the learning process to ensure environmental restoration. I hope that now a worthy contribution will be made to the development of the sphere and environmental protection", said Sh. Tukhtabaev.

During the seminar, it was emphasized that it is necessary to protect nature, in particular, to take a more responsible approach to the "Yashil Makon" project and prevent illegal actions, and the necessary recommendations and instructions were given.