It is often said, “Plant a tree, even if the world ends tomorrow”. The values inherited from our ancestors in preserving nature, creating gardens, and cultivating greenery are being enriched with new meaning and continue on a larger scale.

At the initiative of the Head of state, the foundation of the nationwide project “Yashil Makon” (“Green Space”) was laid in Uzbekistan. As part of this initiative, millions of trees are planted annually. 

In 2025, green projects aimed at ensuring environmental sustainability are planned. Relevant proposals have been included in the draft state program for implementing the Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy in the Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy. 

According to the document, special attention will be given to efficiently using water and raw materials, improving air and soil quality, sustainable agriculture and forestry, eco-tourism, environmentally safe transport, green buildings, renewable energy, and improving energy efficiency.

Implementation of green projects

The proposal emphasizes that the share of green components in new projects included in investment programs, sectoral development programs, and regional plans should reach 10% by 2025, 25% by 2027, and 50% by 2030. Additionally, green programs developed by government agencies, organizations, and local authorities – aimed at achieving carbon neutrality, adapting to climate change, environmental protection, increasing green spaces, and implementing sustainability projects – will be approved in coordination with the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan. 

An annual environmental rating will be conducted to assess the reduction of adverse environmental impacts by government institutions and social facilities, the efficient use of resources, and the adoption of green technologies.

Relevance

Climate change in Uzbekistan has led to negative natural phenomena such as sharp temperature increases, glacier melting, more frequent dust storms, soil salinization, mudflows, expanding drought-affected areas, and other environmental challenges. 

Investment programs in industries such as manufacturing, energy, construction, transportation, mineral extraction and processing, and new projects for sectoral and regional development negatively impact climate change.

Uzbekistan’s average annual air temperature growth rate is 0.29 degrees per decade, twice the global warming rate. As a result, over the past 50-60 years, the glacier area in Central Asia has decreased by approximately 30%. Projections indicate that by 2050, water resources in the Syrdarya basin could decline by 5%, while in the Amudarya basin, the reduction may reach up to 15%.

In Uzbekistan, the total water deficit, over 3 billion cubic meters before 2015, is projected to reach 7 billion cubic meters by 2030 and 15 billion cubic meters by 2050. 

Since 1993, Uzbekistan has been a member of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and signed the Paris Agreement in 2017. After ratifying it in 2018, the country committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030 compared to 2010 levels per unit of GDP. 

Currently, 76.3% of greenhouse gas emissions come from the energy sector, 17.8% from agriculture, 4.5% from industry, and 1.4% from waste management. Uzbekistan’s global greenhouse gas emissions share is 189 million tons or 0.3%.

What are the benefits of implementing green projects?

Implementing green projects will contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation while facilitating the transition to a green economy. It will ensure improved water, air, and soil quality. Maintaining an environmental rating for government agencies and social facilities will foster a greater sense of responsibility and involvement among leaders and citizens in preserving the environment. 

Muhayyo Toshqorayeva, UzA