BAKU, (TDI): Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is in currently attending the World Summit on Combating Climate Change, part of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-29) in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The summit is bringing together nearly 200 delegations, including heads of state, government officials, ministers, and representatives from international organizations, NGOs, and the scientific community.
COP-29, held under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established in 1992, aims to tackle global climate issues. The Convention laid the
foundation for the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, key global treaties that address climate change.
Uzbekistan has been an active participant in these international agreements, joining the UNFCCC in 1993, ratifying the Kyoto Protocol in 1999, and adopting the Paris Agreement in 2017.
The country has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP by 35% of the 2010 level by 2030.
At COP-28 in Dubai in December 2023, President Mirziyoyev outlined Uzbekistan’s climate strategy, emphasizing decarbonization, climate adaptation, and ecosystem restoration, particularly for the Aral Sea, a region devastated by environmental degradation.
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Uzbekistan has been a leader in international initiatives to combat climate change and restore ecosystems, through the establishment of the UN-sponsored Multi-Partner Trust Fund for the Aral Sea. This initiative aims to transform the region into a climate-resilient zone.
In line with its climate goals, Uzbekistan is working to reduce CO₂ emissions, develop renewable energy sources, and promote environmental education.
The country has also introduced the “One Region, One Voice” strategy, uniting Central Asian nations to address shared environmental challenges and establish regional conservation standards.
Uzbekistan’s commitment to sustainable development includes ambitious projects in solar and wind energy to reduce reliance on hydrocarbons and improve water management.
In 2022, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) opened its first office in Central Asia in Tashkent. GGGI supports Uzbekistan’s transition to a green economy through sustainable growth and climate initiatives.
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One of the institute’s key projects is the green rehabilitation of the Aral Sea region, which aims to combat the environmental crisis caused by the shrinking of the Aral Sea.
The project, funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), focuses on improving the living conditions of the local population through sustainable farming practices and green technologies.
Uzbekistan has also been active within other international frameworks. At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), President Mirziyoyev stressed the importance of cooperation on decarbonization, clean technologies, smart agriculture, and water conservation.
During the summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Bishkek in November 2023, he proposed the creation of a Turkic Ecological Council to address climate-related challenges across the region.
These efforts highlight Uzbekistan’s commitment to global environmental initiatives and its role in advancing a sustainable future.
President Mirziyoyev’s participation in COP-29 underscores the country’s dedication to “green” growth, its readiness to collaborate on climate change mitigation, and its ongoing efforts to meet its commitments under the UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement.
