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

This initiative is outlined in the draft of the Presidential Decree of the Republic of Uzbekistan, "On the State Program for the Implementation of the "Uzbekistan-2030" Strategy in the Year of Environmental Protection and the Green Economy".

Relevance

Uzbekistan is situated in a region with a low density of trees, where forest cover averages only 8-9%. At the same time, approximately 60% of Earth's ecosystems are in a critical state. Globally, 87 aquatic and watershed ecosystems, 46 desert ecosystems, and 43 mountain ecosystems are under threat.
According to experts, there are currently around 370,000 plant species on Earth, of which approximately 60,000, along with more than 7,000 animal species, are at risk of extinction.

Additionally, due to large-scale deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, it is predicted that by 2030, the average annual temperature in northern Uzbekistan will rise by +2 to +3°C, while in the southern regions, it will increase by approximately +1°C (an overall average of +2°C). This will lead to shrinking glaciers and exacerbate water scarcity.

The "Uzbekistan-2030" Strategy aims to plant 200 million ornamental and fruit-bearing trees and shrubs annually and increase the country’s green space coverage to 30% and forest cover to 15% by 2030.

Implementation

Under the "My Garden" project, which is part of the "Yashil Makon" national initiative, solar-powered lighting systems are planned for installation in the "green public parks" being developed annually in 208 cities and districts across the country.

International experience

In October 2021, Kazakhstan approved the "Green Kazakhstan" national project. Between 2021 and 2025, the project aimed to plant 2 billion trees and maintain a standardized level of species and area-specific preservation. Over the years, Kazakhstan's forested area has expanded by 453,800 hectares.

Similarly, Germany is transitioning toward "Clean Energy" by incorporating solar panels on residential and administrative building rooftops under its annual "Green Corridor" and "Green Space" projects.

Benefits

Planting 200 million trees and shrubs will enhance greenery and improve the ecological system. Incorporating solar panels will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, producing 1 kWh of energy with solar panels emits only 50 grams of CO2 (Carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere. In comparison, coal-based energy production emits 1,000 grams of CO2 for the same energy output.

The draft of the Presidential Decree is available  for public and expert discussion on the "Uzbekistan-2030" National Strategy web portal until January 22. You are invited to participate actively by submitting your suggestions and comments through the website uzbekistan2030.uz  or the Telegram bot @Ekologiya_yili_bot. The draft is available in Uzbek and Russian.