The National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change has been established
The Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On measures to create a management system capable of promptly responding to the needs of the population in the field of ecology and tourism” was signed.
According to the Decree, the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change was established within the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change.
This Decree is aimed at the effective and high-quality organization of activities in the areas of ecology, environmental protection, and tourism based on new approaches, as well as at improving the system of public administration and control in these areas.
What are the powers of the Ecology Committee?
According to the Presidential Decree, the Ecology Committee is the authorized body for the implementation of unified state policy and control in the area of maintaining a favorable ecological state, environmental protection, implementation of the national project “Yashil Makon” (“Green Space”), reforestation, mitigation of the effects of global climate change and combating desertification.
The Committee is responsible for the implementation of the following national projects:
— the national project “Chikindidan ҳoli ҳudud” (“Waste-free zone”), aimed at improving the waste processing and management system;
— the national project “Toza Havo” (“Clean Air”), aimed at improving the quality of atmospheric air;
— the national project “Yashil Makon” (“Green Space”), which envisages the creation of botanical and dendrological gardens with a total area of at least 100 hectares in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and the city of Tashkent by 2028;
— the national project “Eco-madaniyat” (“Ecoculture”), aimed at developing an ecological culture among the population and widely promoting an ecological lifestyle;
— the national project “Bio Meros” (“Bio Heritage”), aimed at preserving biodiversity for future generations.
Government organizations and officials are prohibited from interfering in the activities of the Committee.
According to the Decree of the President, the Committee on Ecology in its activities is directly subordinate to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The Committee carries out its activities independently of any government bodies, organizations and their officials, and interference by these persons in the work of the Committee is prohibited.
The Committee on Ecology will be headed by the Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Ecology
The National Committee is headed by the Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues, who also serves as the Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change. This position is enshrined in the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The Agency for Afforestation and Greening, Combating Desertification, the Hydrometeorological Service Agency, and the Agency for the Development of Waste Management and the Circular Economy will also continue their activities within the Ecology Committee.
Environmental control will be strengthened
According to the Decree, from April 1, 2026, a procedure for applying financial sanctions to legal entities for violating legislation in the field of ecology, environmental protection, and natural resource management will be introduced.
Financial sanctions will be applied exclusively to legal entities in the form of monetary penalties (fines). However, employees of legal entities subject to such sanctions will not be subject to administrative sanctions.
Moreover, receiving a warning about the inadmissibility of a repeat violation and paying a fine does not release the offender from the obligation to comply with the Committee’s decision or perform other actions provided for by law.
An Ecopolice will be created
The State Inspectorate for Environmental Control (Ecopolice) is being created on the basis of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change.
According to the Presidential Decree, 40 staff positions previously allocated to the prosecutor’s offices of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions, and the city of Tashkent to oversee the implementation of legislation in the field of ecology, environmental protection, and forestry are being transferred to the Ecopolice.
The Ecopolice is a special unit of the Committee on Ecology, performing certain law enforcement functions in the area of ensuring environmental safety and preventing environmental violations.
According to the Decree, the Chair of the Ecology Committee simultaneously serves as the Head of Ecopolice. The Deputy Head of Ecopolice simultaneously serves as the Deputy Chair of the Committee and heads the Ecopolice Task Force.
The environmental police are allowed to form their territorial units within natural ecological zones, without regard to administrative-territorial boundaries.
Ecopolice officers are authorized to use physical force, special equipment (including stun guns), and service weapons (rubber bullets, net-shooting devices). Body cameras will be installed on officers’ uniforms.
Until the relevant amendments are made to the legislation, the procedure for the use of physical force, special means and service weapons by Ecopolice officers will be regulated by the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Internal Affairs Agencies”.
The Ecology Committee will regularly inform the President about violations of environmental legislation and the repeal of illegal decisions.
The Committee on Ecology will regularly provide the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan with information on cases of violations of legislation in the field of ecology and environmental protection committed by large enterprises and industries, as well as on measures taken against these organizations and their officials.
In addition, the Committee will inform the President about the status of the fulfillment of assigned duties by responsible management and control bodies in this area, as well as about measures to cancel decisions of state bodies that contradict the requirements of legislation in the field of ecology and environmental protection.
The National Center for Environmental Monitoring is being established
According to the Presidential Decree, a National Environmental Monitoring Center will be established on the basis of the Environmental Protection Center, which will carry out unified monitoring in all areas.
The center’s activities will cover monitoring the state of atmospheric air, surface and groundwater, wastewater, land and soil, as well as the protection of wild flora and fauna.
The territorial divisions of the Committee on Ecology will be subordinate to the Committee
According to the Presidential Decree, territorial divisions of the Committee on Ecology carry out their activities independently of local executive authorities and report directly to the Committee on Ecology.
The heads of territorial divisions are appointed by the Chairman of the Committee in agreement with the Head of the Presidential Administration.
Employees of the environmental diplomacy departments of 14 ministries and agencies are appointed to their positions in consultation with the Ecology Committee. Furthermore, the structure of 24 protected natural areas and 89 state forestry enterprises is approved by the Ecology Committee.
Industrial enterprises will install background monitoring stations on their premises
According to the Presidential Decree, the Unified Online Environmental Platform will be launched by September 1, 2026.
In addition, industrial enterprises with environmental impact categories I and II are required to install background monitoring stations on their territory by March 1, 2026, and integrate them with the National Center for Environmental Monitoring under the Committee on Ecology.
Starting from March 1, 2026, Category I and II enterprises that failed to install background monitoring stations within the established deadline and did not connect them to the Ecology Committee system will be subject to compensation payments at a rate of five times the original amount.
The seizure and provision of forest areas for other needs that are not part of the forest fund is prohibited.
From April 1, 2026, the seizure and allocation for other purposes of land plots covered with trees and located in populated areas, but not included in the forest fund, may be prohibited at the initiative of the public.
According to the Presidential Decree, citizens can submit an application through Government Services Centers or the Unified Portal of Interactive Government Services. If at least 10 percent of the population of the locality where the forest plot is located agrees to the ban, the Ecology Committee will prohibit the seizure and allocation of the forest plot for other purposes.
Furthermore, cadastral registration authorities check whether the land plot is part of the forest fund and whether it can be transferred to individual or private ownership. If the land plot is found to be part of the forest fund, a ban is imposed, and the process of disposing of it is suspended.
This will help preserve green spaces in cities and villages, protect trees within the framework of the Yaşil Makon (Green Space) initiative, ensure ecological balance, and limit illegal construction.
Protected natural areas will be improved
According to the Presidential Decree, existing protected natural areas within the system of the Committee for Environmental Protection are recognized as protected natural areas of national significance.
In addition, local executive authorities can create natural parks, nature reserves, resort natural areas and botanical gardens of local significance.
The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and regional khokimiyats must also create two local natural parks by November 1, 2026.
By the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Abdukhakimov Aziz Abdukakharovich was appointed to the post of Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues – Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change and, in connection with this, was relieved of the post of Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Source: https://president.uz/oz/lists/view/8689