Climate change, Green Tech and NbS, Resiland, Water resources

Uzbekistan Promotes Green Agenda at the International Glacier Conference

June 3, 2025

GEF, Resiland, UNESCO

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A delegation from the Republic of Uzbekistan, led by the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change Aziz Abdukhakimov, participated in the High-Level International Conference on Glacier Preservation held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

The event gathered about 2,500 participants from 90 countries, including heads of states and governments, representatives of the UN, international organizations, and the scientific community.

During the opening, the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, called for global cooperation amid the rapid melting of glaciers and proposed organizing a comprehensive expedition to study them. In his speech, E. Rahmon reminded that, at Tajikistan’s initiative, 2025 was declared the International Year of Glacier Preservation, and March 21 was designated as World Glacier Day. The President of Tajikistan emphasized the need to create a global glacier protection strategy and to increase funding for the International Glacier Protection Fund. Also, a joint proposal with France was put forward to declare 2025–2034 as the Decade of Cryosphere Science Action.

In his speech at the high-level plenary session, A. Abdukhakimov stressed the critical importance of glacier preservation for water security and sustainable development in Central Asia. The Minister presented the environmental reforms being implemented in the country under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, including the “Yashil Makon” initiative, projects for greening the dried Aral Sea bed, the introduction of green technologies, and water-saving systems. Participants were also invited to the Eco Expo Central Asia exhibition, which will be held in June this year in Tashkent.

During the Ministerial Dialogue, issues of climate resilience, glacier preservation, and water cooperation were discussed. Uzbekistan presented a comprehensive approach to environmental policy: the Green Economy Strategy, the National Adaptation Plan, the establishment of the Climate Council under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the National Climate Center. Special attention was given to the RESILAND project ($142 million), cooperation with the European Union under the Copernicus program, and participation in UNESCO projects monitoring glacier lakes.

At the climate science session, regional countries discussed the need to create a unified climate research database. Uzbekistan proposed forming an expert group to finalize the Concept of Green Development in Central Asia and to prepare a roadmap for 2026. The role of the Central Asian University for Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University) as a scientific platform for training specialists in ecology, water conservation, and renewable energy was also confirmed.

At Uzbekistan’s initiative, a roundtable in the format “Central Asia + Green Climate Fund” was organized, where ways to enhance the efficiency of regional projects and interaction with the Green Climate Fund were discussed. Uzbekistan’s proposal to create an interstate working group to coordinate with the Green Climate Fund received unanimous support. This will help form a package of project concepts and strengthen financing for adaptation initiatives.

The conference concluded with the discussion of the regional program “Water, Land, and Climate Change (NEXUS).” Representatives of Central Asian countries were informed about the submission of the final project document to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for $26 million. Uzbekistan, along with other regional countries, expressed readiness to continue participating in the implementation of this large-scale initiative aimed at sustainable management of water and land resources under changing climate conditions.

https://gov.uz/en/eco/news/view/58035