Climate policy is an integral part of Uzbekistan’s course

Over the past decade, we have increasingly become witnesses to the devastating consequences of climate change occurring in the world.

Uzbekistan, like the Central Asian region, is no exception: the country is particularly sensitive to disturbances in the ecological balance. The negative impact is already indicated by forecasts of international experts. For example, by the middle of the century, a decrease in the flow of the two largest rivers in the region – the Amu Darya and Syr Darya (up to 15%), a decrease in water supply per capita (by 25%) and agricultural yields (by 40%) are expected. All this can adversely affect the development of the economy, damage the existing infrastructure and worsen the health and life of the population.

In this regard, in recent years, as part of large-scale reforms carried out by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the climate agenda has been defined as a priority area of state policy. One of the main confirmations of this was the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2017 and its ratification in 2018. Uzbekistan, along with 175 signatory countries, committed to keeping the increase in the average global temperature in the world to below 2 degrees Celsius.

In 2021, at COP26 in Glasgow, Uzbekistan presented an updated nationally determined contribution (NDC-2) to reduce specific greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP, increasing the figure from 10% to 35% by 2030 compared to the 2010 level (NDC-1).

To implement the intended goals, the regulatory and institutional framework was significantly expanded and supplemented. Several strategic documents and resolutions have been adopted and implemented, including Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 4477 of October 2019, which approved the National Strategy for the Transition to a Green Economy for 2019–2030 and created the Interdepartmental Council for the Green Economy.

A number of strategic and program documents were adopted, including concepts for environmental protection until 2030 and water management development for 2020–2030, and a strategy for solid municipal waste management for the period 2019–2028.

In 2023, by the Decree of the President, the Ministry of Natural Resources was transformed into the Ministry of Ecology, Environment, and Climate Change. The position of Deputy Prosecutor General was also introduced, responsible for compliance with and supervision of legislation in the field of ecology, environmental protection, and forestry.

Another important step in the development of the country’s environmental policy was the inclusion, for the first time in the country’s history, of individual articles on environmental protection in the updated Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which reflects the rights to ensure environmental safety of citizens and their responsibilities. In addition, the Decree of the President No. UP-81 of May 2023 enshrined the right of citizens to compensation for damage caused by violation of environmental legislation.

Moreover, in July of this year, the Climate Council under the President was created. It is defined as the highest advisory body on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

One of the most pressing environmental issues facing the republic is ensuring water security. Today, over 80% of water in Uzbekistan comes from neighboring countries located upstream. Only about 22% of renewable fresh water sources are located within the country, and the availability of water resources per capita is 57% of the average. According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), Uzbekistan is among the 25 countries in the world that are particularly susceptible to water stress, and the effects of climate change are only exacerbating the problem of water shortages.

In these conditions, the country’s leadership places special emphasis on increasing the efficiency of water use.

According to the analysis presented by the Institute of Macroeconomic and Regional Studies, the area of application of water-saving technologies (WST) in the republic has increased by 7.7 times over the past five years, and the coverage area has reached 1 million hectares. Of these, 398 thousand hectares are drip irrigation, 31 thousand hectares are sprinkler irrigation, and discrete irrigation has been implemented on 16 thousand hectares. Today, Uzbekistan is among the world’s top 10 countries (7th place, after Israel, the USA, the Russian Federation, Spain, Brazil and Italy) in terms of the area of implemented water-saving technologies.

The country has a practice of subsidizing citizens who want to implement WST on their farms. If in 2019, agricultural enterprises were allocated 137.9 billion soums in subsidies, in 2020 – 251.6 billion soums, then in 2021 this figure increased to 899.4 billion soums, including 754.4 billion soums in subsidies for water-saving technologies in cotton fields.

Another key area of Uzbekistan’s climate policy is the development of renewable energy sources (RES). In 2019, significant changes occurred in the management of the country’s energy sector. By the Decree of the President of February 1, 2019, the Ministry of Energy was established, which became the authorized body for the implementation of a unified state policy in the field of RES use.

In the same year, the most important legislative acts were adopted – the Laws “On the Use of Renewable Energy Sources” and “On Public-Private Partnership”, which created a legal basis for the accelerated development of RES projects.

The strategy for the transition to a “green” economy has set ambitious goals: by 2026, it is planned to increase the share of “green” energy to 8 thousand MW, which will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 5 million tons.

By 2030, the goal is to double the energy efficiency of the economy and bring the share of renewable energy to 40%. To achieve these indicators, large-scale construction of new RES facilities is planned, including solar, wind and hydroelectric power plants. It is noted that in the next three years, 28 large solar and wind power plants with a capacity of 8 GW will be launched in Uzbekistan.

Today, the country has created a comprehensive incentive system for the development of renewable energy sources. In particular, manufacturers of renewable energy installations are exempt from paying all types of taxes for a period of five years from the date of their state registration. Producers of energy from alternative sources receive a ten-year exemption from property tax for renewable energy installations and land tax on the plots occupied by these installations. Individuals using renewable energy in residential premises with complete disconnection from existing energy networks are exempt from property tax and land tax for a period of three years.

Since 2020, a system of state compensation has been introduced for individuals purchasing solar photovoltaic stations, solar water heaters and energy-efficient gas burner devices. In addition, compensation is provided to cover interest expenses on loans for the purchase of renewable energy installations to both individuals and legal entities. Uzbekistan is actively attracting international investment in the development of renewable energy sources. A good example is the 100 MW solar photovoltaic plant project in the Navoi region, implemented on the basis of a public-private partnership with the United Arab Emirates. In August 2024, negotiations were held with a Malaysian company on the construction of a new 200 MW solar power plant in the Fergana region. The cost of the project is estimated at 150 million US dollars. This year, with the assistance of China, it is planned to create a 700 MW solar power plant in the Tashkent region.

Currently, the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan, together with the Asian Development Bank, is working on the implementation of investment projects for solar photovoltaic power plants with a total capacity of up to 1 GW in the period 2019-2025.

Uzbekistan is also consistently working to regulate air quality. Recently, the Air Tashkent air quality monitoring program was launched, developed by the Digital Development Department (DDC) under the Tashkent city administration. Since 2023, this program has been studying the incidence rate of the population from air pollution in the Surkhandarya, Bukhara, Khorezm regions and the Republic of Karakalpakstan. In addition, since this year, a rating of each region by the level of air pollution has been introduced.

Along with national efforts, Uzbekistan is actively promoting climate initiatives aimed at consolidating the region to take action to combat climate change. Thus, in 2022, at the 4th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia (CMHCA), the Regional Program “Green Agenda” was adopted on the initiative of Uzbekistan. During the 5th CMHCA, the idea of creating a Regional Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change was voiced.

Realizing the importance of international cooperation, President Sh.M. Mirziyoyev speaks at various venues (the OBOR and SCO forum, at summits of Central Asian countries, the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf, and others) calling for “greening” the economy, considering climate change as a priority on an ongoing basis.

Tashkent’s active interaction with the United Nations deserves special attention. Currently, about 140 projects worth a total of $174.59 million are being implemented in Uzbekistan with the participation of UN agencies. The largest of them are in the area of transition to a “green” economy in the agri-food sector ($4.1 million) and the development of a national climate change adaptation plan ($1.2 million). In August 2023, at the initiative of Uzbekistan, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on sustainable forest management. The country actively participates in UN climate conferences and implements joint projects with international financial institutions.

Uzbekistan’s commitment to the overall climate agenda is evidenced by the active participation of the country’s delegations at the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP) at the high and highest levels. Thus, speaking at COP28 in Dubai, the President of Uzbekistan confirmed the country’s commitment to the earliest possible agreement on the Global Framework Mechanism for Adaptation to Climate Change within the framework of the Paris Agreement. The creation of a Climate Science Forum was initiated at the Central Asian University of Environment and Climate Change in Tashkent, with the involvement of leading scientists and experts from foreign countries.

Uzbekistan’s fruitful participation at the Conference of the Parties in Baku COP29 was no exception.

read also – Uzbekistan on the way to a sustainable future: environmental initiatives and international cooperation

In conclusion, it should be said that Uzbekistan demonstrates an example of a responsible approach to global environmental challenges, consistently implementing comprehensive measures to fulfill international commitments in the field of climate. The country is not only actively developing renewable energy and modernizing existing infrastructure, but is also creating favorable conditions for attracting private investment in “green” projects, and, more importantly, is stimulating the personal participation of its citizens in the environmental agenda, which contributes to sustainable economic development and improving the quality of life of the population.

read also: Uzbekistan’s policy on adaptation and mitigation of climate change