Ziyo Forum and the United Nations in Uzbekistan co-hosted a live screening of the “Moment of Opportunity” speech by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, highlighting the global pivot to clean energy and the need to accelerate climate action.

More than 80 participants, including university students, Youth Parliament members, media representatives, and UN agencies, took part, underscoring the importance of youth engagement and multi-stakeholder dialogue on the climate crisis.

Guterres warned that 2024 was the first year global temperatures topped 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. He stressed this is a warning, not an endpoint: keeping warming below 1.5°C remains possible and essential to protect the most vulnerable.

For Uzbekistan and Central Asia, climate change is already tangible: temperatures are rising at twice the global rate, water scarcity is worsening, and extreme weather is increasing, putting pressure on agriculture and health. Responding to this urgency, Uzbekistan has declared 2025 the Year of the Green Economy and submitted a more ambitious NDC, linking climate action to growth and jobs.

Guterres framed climate action as an opportunity, not a cost. A clean-energy transition can generate jobs, spark innovation, and attract investment, offering Uzbekistan a pathway to inclusive, sustainable development while safeguarding its natural resources for future generations.

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Musulmon Ziyo, video by Nishonboy Abduvoitov, UzA