At Westminster International University in Tashkent, eco-volunteers and U-Report volunteers, UPSHIFT social innovation program participants, and the UniSat educational STEM program discussed proposals and actions aimed at combating climate change.

About 100 representatives of the younger generation from all regions of Uzbekistan participated in the discussion. A fruitful dialogue took place between youth and representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis for the Rights of the Child, non-governmental organizations, and UN agencies.

The participants stressed that climate and environmental threats have a devastating impact on the well-being and future of children. They discussed issues such as preparation for natural disasters, ecological degradation, biodiversity loss, air pollution, and alternative energy sources and suggested specific solutions.

The importance of recognizing the collective responsibility and obligations to protect the rights of children in the context of climate change, the need to take concrete measures to eliminate all factors that hinder the full realization of the rights of children to a clean and safe environment now and for future generations was noted.

“The climate crisis can be called a crisis of the rights of children”, said the UNICEF Representative to Uzbekistan Munir Mammadzade. – This deprives children of the opportunity to grow up healthy and happy and can eventually cause diseases and even endanger their lives. Efforts to keep the planet habitable should consider young people's unique needs and vulnerabilities and include them in the decision-making process. Children and young people have essential skills, experience, and ideas to form a safer and more sustainable society”.

N. Usmonova, UzA