The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan, in partnership with Education Above All Foundation (EAA), has officially launched a transformative initiative to equip 1.3 million young people with climate education and leadership skills.

The three-year initiative, “Empowering and Nurturing Youth Leadership through Climate Action Education”, was inaugurated during a high-level signing ceremony in Tashkent. The announcement coincided with the global observance of World Environment Day 2025, themed “Ending Global Plastic Pollution”. 

With a total budget of USD 7.5 million, the project represents a significant step toward integrating environmental stewardship into Uzbekistan’s education system and broader development agenda.

The initiative will train 50,000 teachers and provide 4,000 rural youth specialized training in climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy. In some of the nation's most climate-vulnerable areas, such as the Aral Sea region, 800 young community leaders will also be engaged in local climate action projects.

To foster innovation, national climate competitions will be organised, with winning projects receiving international recognition.

This initiative contributes directly to Uzbekistan’s national climate strategy, delivering long-term, sustainable solutions for climate-vulnerable regions nationwide.

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N. Usmanova, photos by R. Nazarmatov, UzA