Geneva hosted a roundtable discussion dedicated to the UN General Assembly Resolution “Central Asia in the face of environmental challenges: strengthening regional solidarity for the sake of sustainable development and prosperity”, adopted on the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan.

The event was attended by representatives of the diplomatic missions of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, as well as structural units of the UN and international organizations in Geneva.

The resolution contains specific tasks to effectively counter climate and environmental threats in Central Asia, including through the development of sustainable agriculture, landscaping, rational use of water resources, energy efficiency, waste recycling, development of sustainable tourism, creation of “smart cities” and sustainable transport.

In the resolution, member states welcome the initiative of Uzbekistan to hold the International Climate Forum in Samarkand in 2024. Particular attention is paid to efforts to mitigate the consequences of the drying up of the Aral Sea, with special emphasis on the activities of the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Human Security for the Aral Sea region, created on the initiative of the head of Uzbekistan. An appeal was made to the international community to continue to support this fund.

The document notes the importance of introducing innovative methods and new technologies in the fight against desertification and land degradation. Contains greetings to the successful holding for the first time in Central Asia of the 21st session of the Committee to Review the Implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and a high-level meeting on combating sand and dust storms on November 13-17 in Samarkand.

UzA